PUNE: The Chatushrungi police have started an inquiry after dismissed IAS probationer Puja Khedkar reported to them late on Saturday night that four to five men, including her recently recruited domestic help, tied up, drugged and robbed her family in their bungalow in National Society on Baner Road. Khedkar’s parents, Dilip and Manorama, a household cook, driver and a guard were admitted to a private hospital for treatment.
“Khedkar has not yet lodged a formal complaint regarding the incident as she told us that her parents needed to recover from the sedation effects first,” Pune’s deputy commissioner of police (zone IV) Chilumula Rajanikant told TOI. The DCP said Khedkar told police that she returned home around 11.30pm on Saturday when the gang four or five men tied her up with a ribbon in one of the rooms and started searching for mobile phones and valuables in the house. She told police that after the gang left, she managed to free herself and came out of the room. She found her parents, cook, driver and guard lying sedated and in a semi-conscious condition. Khedkar then reported the matter to the Chatushrungi police. An officer from the Chatushrungi police said a police team immediately reached the bungalow. The watchman of the bungalow was lying unconscious on the premises. “Her parents were lying unconscious in their bedroom and the driver was lying on the ground floor. Their cook was found unconscious in the room on the premises of the bungalow,” the officer said. The cupboards in the room of Khedkar’s parents were found open and things were scattered all over the floor. “We called the ambulance and sent all five people to a hospital. They are undergoing treatment. We will record their statements after their recovery. We have started an investigation though,” the officer added. DCP Rajanikant said prima facie investigations revealed that the Khedkar family appointed a domestic helper about 15 days ago. He is from Nepal. “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 said. Senior police inspector Uttam Bhajnavale of the Chatushrungi police said, “A case is yet to be registered. Prima facie, the gang made off with valuables and mobile phones from the bungalow. The exact value will be confirmed after recording the statements of the victims.” An officer from the crime branch, who was at the bungalow on Sunday afternoon, told TOI, “There are CCTV cameras on the premises of the bungalow, but the cameras are not functional. We started checking the CCTV cameras from the neighbouring establishments. We have sent a team to Mumbai for investigations to trace the accused,” the officer said. When TOI tried to get in touch with Khedkar for comment on Sunday, her phone was switched off.
