In a shocking incident in Pune's upscale Baner Road area, dismissed IAS probationer Puja Khedkar and her family were allegedly tied up, drugged, and robbed by a gang of four to five men in their bungalow late on Saturday night. The Chatushrungi police have initiated a detailed inquiry into the terrifying home invasion.
The Night of Terror on Baner Road
The incident unfolded at the Khedkar family's bungalow in the National Society. According to police accounts, Puja Khedkar returned home around 11:30 PM on Saturday. Upon entering, she was ambushed by the assailants. The gang tied her up with a ribbon in one of the rooms before proceeding to ransack the house for mobile phones and other valuables.
After the perpetrators fled, Khedkar managed to free herself. She then discovered a distressing scene: her parents, Dilip and Manorama Khedkar, along with the household cook, driver, and a security guard, were all lying in a sedated and semi-conscious condition. She immediately alerted the Chatushrungi police.
Police Response and Initial Findings
A police team swiftly arrived at the bungalow. They found the watchman unconscious on the premises. Inside, Khedkar's parents were unconscious in their bedroom, the driver was on the ground floor, and the cook was found in another room on the property. Cupboards in the parents' room were open, with belongings scattered across the floor.
All five victims were rushed to a private hospital via ambulance and are currently undergoing treatment. Pune's deputy commissioner of police (zone IV), Chilumula Rajanikant, stated that a formal complaint has not been lodged yet, as Khedkar wants her parents to recover from the sedation effects first.
DCP Rajanikant revealed a crucial lead: the family had hired a domestic helper from Nepal approximately 15 days prior to the incident. "Khedkar suspected this domestic helper's involvement in the crime. During his stay, he might have collected detailed information about the bungalow and then executed the plot with the help of his accomplices," the DCP told TOI.
Investigation Hurdles and Next Steps
The investigation faces an immediate challenge. While the bungalow has CCTV cameras, they were not functional at the time of the crime. Officers are now scouring footage from neighbouring establishments to identify the suspects. A police team has also been sent to Mumbai as part of the probe.
Senior police inspector Uttam Bhajnavale of the Chatushrungi police confirmed that while a case is yet to be formally registered, prima facie evidence indicates the gang escaped with valuables and mobile phones. The exact value of the stolen items will be ascertained once the victims' statements are recorded after their recovery.
Attempts by TOI to contact Puja Khedkar for comment on Sunday were unsuccessful as her phone was switched off. The police continue their investigation, focusing on tracing the newly recruited domestic help and his alleged accomplices.
