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Navi Mumbai police have made a significant breakthrough in the kidnapping case connected to suspended IAS trainee officer Pooja Khedkar. The arrest comes after a road rage incident on September 13 along the Mulund-Airoli Highway, where a truck collided with an SUV allegedly linked to the Khedkar family.

According to police, the SUV occupants demanded money from the truck driver and his helper for vehicle repairs. When the truck driver refused, the helper, 22-year-old Pralhad Kumar Chauhan, was forcibly taken away and held hostage.

Investigations revealed that the victim was confined in a house at the National Housing Society in Aundh, Pune. His mobile phone was seized, he was served stale food, and he was threatened with dire consequences unless he paid for the SUV’s damages. The DVR of nearby CCTV cameras was also removed to destroy evidence.

On September 19, 2025, police arrested Prafull Gyaneshwar Salunkhe, one of the accused, from Shindkheda in Dhule district. He was presented before a court and remanded to police custody until September 27.

The investigation has also implicated Dilip Khedkar and his wife, Manorama Khedkar, who remain absconding. Manorama is accused of tampering with evidence, while others involved in removing the CCTV DVR have also been identified.

Initially, police registered the case under limited charges, but as the investigation progressed, stricter sections of the IPC were added, including those related to kidnapping, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation, and destruction of evidence.

Senior officer Deepak Kharat of Rabale police is leading the ongoing investigation, while efforts are underway to trace and arrest the remaining accused.