Mumbai, March 21: In the midst of a controversy involving self-proclaimed spiritual leader Ashok Kharat, Rupali Chakanakar, head of the Maharashtra NCP women’s wing, stated on Friday that she is specifically being targeted because she is a woman.
Speaking to reporters after resigning from her position as the chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission, Chakanakar expressed her concerns. “My entire family follows the Warkari tradition, which is why we were associated with Kharat’s trust. However, I had no knowledge of his other side. How can anyone predict how a person will behave in the future? Many people have pictures with Kharat, but it pains me that I am being singled out and accused, solely because I am a woman,” she said.
Chakanakar clarified that her connection to Ashok Kharat’s trust stemmed from her family’s longstanding ties to the Warkari tradition. She acknowledged that she considered Kharat and his wife as her spiritual guides but emphasized that the videos currently circulating online are nearly six years old.
Notably, Ashok Kharat, a self-proclaimed baba from Nashik in northern Maharashtra, has already been arrested on charges of sexual harassment and rape.
Chakanakar questioned, “The video of the ‘Padya-Poojan’ is five to six years old. My husband and I participated in the trust’s events due to our spiritual beliefs. At that time, we had no knowledge of his personal conduct or any potential wrongdoing in the future. How can anyone guess how a person will behave years later?”
She also mentioned that her official tenure as a director in Kharat’s trust ended on August 8, 2025. Defending her integrity, Chakanakar stated that she decided to step down to ensure a fair and transparent investigation into the allegations against Kharat.
She confirmed that she has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) demanding strict action.
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