The Navi Mumbai police have arrested the driver of former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar’s father in connection with the road rage incident in which a truck driver was abducted last week, a senior official said on Saturday.

Puja Khedkar’s father, Dilip Khedkar, who is also wanted in the case, is still absconding, police said.

According to the police, the incident occurred on September 13 on the Mulund-Airoli Road in Navi Mumbai after a concrete mixer truck driven by Prahlad Kumar (22) brushed against a Land Cruiser car, leading to an argument between him and two occupants of the four-wheeler.

The investigation revealed that Dilip Khedkar and his driver, Praful Salunkhe, bundled Kumar into the SUV and took him to the Khedkar bungalow in Pune.

Police tracked the SUV to Pune based on technical analysis and rescued the truck driver from the bungalow even as Puja Khedkar’s mother, Manorama, obstructed their entry.

“We have arrested Khedkar’s driver Praful Salunkhe, who was involved in the abduction,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Pankaj Dahane said.

The Rabale police have registered a case under section 137(2) (kidnapping) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the accused, including Dilip Khedkar, who is absconding.

The Pune police have also registered a case against Manorama Khedkar, the mother of Puja Khedkar, for allegedly obstructing the police and issued a notice.

Puja Khedkar is accused of misrepresenting facts in her application for the 2022 UPSC civil services examination to avail herself of reservation benefits. She has refuted all the allegations against her.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has initiated a series of actions against Khedkar, including lodging a criminal case for attempting to take the civil services exam by faking her identity. Delhi Police had lodged an FIR against her for various offences.

After the controversy erupted over Puja Khedkar’s appointment as a probationary IAS officer, a video surfaced last year in which her mother was seen threatening a farmer. Manorama Khedkar was subsequently arrested and later released on bail.

Mumbai: The Malad police on September 15 arrested a 34-year-old woman who had been wanted for the past four months in connection with a multi-crore overseas job fraud.

The accused, identified as Ekta Avinash Ayre, also known as Drishti or Manisha, allegedly set up a bogus company in a Malad shopping mall and cheated at least 38 unemployed men of around Rs 2 crore by promising them jobs abroad.

According to police officers, Ayre and her two absconding accomplices, Aman Kamlamiya Sheikh and Jigneshkumar Rathwa, opened an office in Malad and heavily advertised on social media, offering jobs in Gulf countries for positions such as kitchen staff, drivers, housekeeping staff, storekeepers and security guards in reputed hotels.

The gang posted fake positive reviews online and provided a link for applicants to register. Many job seekers from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune and other cities applied online or in person, submitting their passports along with fees for registration, visas, medical tests and other charges.

Within days, the victims received appointment letters and visas by email. However, after verification, the documents were found to be fake. When some of the victims rushed to the Malad office, they discovered that the company had been shut down and the accused had fled. Each candidate had reportedly paid between Rs 4.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. Following complaints from about 38 victims, the Malad police registered a case of cheating and embezzlement against the accused.

Senior Police Inspector Drushyant Chavan said he directed the crime team to track down the absconding suspects. During a special operation, Ayre was located and arrested. Interrogation revealed that some of the defrauded money had been transferred to her bank account, confirming her direct involvement in the crime.

Ayre had earlier applied for anticipatory bail in the sessions court, but her plea was rejected. She was produced before the Borivali magistrate court and remanded to judicial custody. The case was filed in May 2025. 

Mumbai: Mumbai woke up to light to moderate showers on Saturday morning. The city and its suburbs largely remained under a blanket of thick clouds, with intermittent drizzle adding to the damp weather. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature in the city is likely to settle around 30 degrees Celsius, while the minimum may hover near 24 degrees Celsius.

Through the day, skies are expected to remain generally cloudy, with showers intensifying slightly by evening. Coastal winds will continue to bring moisture-laden clouds into Mumbai and other parts of the Konkan belt, where moderate rainfall has also been predicted. Importantly, no rain alerts have been issued for any district, easing concerns of severe flooding or traffic disruptions that usually accompany heavy downpours in the region.

For the next few days, the IMD has forecast varied conditions for Mumbai and adjoining districts. On September 21 and 22, widespread moderate rainfall is expected under a generally cloudy sky. These two days may see consistent showers, keeping outdoor activities limited and adding to the waterlogging risks in low-lying areas. By September 23, however, the city may see a break in the wet spell with partly cloudy skies and occasional spells of rain or thundershowers. Sunshine may peek through at intervals, though short but intense bursts of rainfall are likely.

September 24 and 25 are expected to continue with a mix of conditions, partly cloudy skies, scattered showers, and the possibility of thunder in some pockets. While much of the day on these dates may stay dry, sudden and sharp showers could still disrupt daily routines.

The IMD has linked the current weather pattern to a trough forming along the Telangana–Vidarbha border, which has been intensifying rainfall across several regions of Maharashtra. On September 20, heavy to very heavy rains are predicted in many districts, prompting the weather department to issue a yellow alert for 20 districts across the state.