Mumbai, March 21: In a significant political development, NCP leader Rupali Chakanakar resigned from her position as the Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission on Friday. This decision comes amidst the controversy surrounding self-styled godman Captain Ashok Kharat, who has been accused of sexual harassment and rape.
Following directives from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Chakanakar met Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar at her official residence, ‘Devgiri,’ shortly before submitting her resignation. Earlier, Fadnavis had summoned her to his residence, ‘Varsha,’ and instructed her to step down immediately. This directive was issued just two days after Kharat’s arrest in Nashik.
Chakanakar is a trustee of the ‘Shri Shivnika Sansthan’ located in Sinnar, Nashik, where Kharat serves as the president. The Chief Minister’s order came after a video surfaced showing Chakanakar washing Kharat’s feet, sparking widespread outrage.
Fadnavis has already ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations against Kharat, which include repeated sexual assault and the unauthorized recording of intimate moments of several women.
On Friday evening, Chakanakar sent a letter to Maharashtra’s DGP Sadanand Date, requesting a thorough, timely, and impartial investigation into the matter. She stated that the commission is closely monitoring the situation and has urged the Nashik Police Commissioner to keep them informed of all developments.
Police have seized a pen drive containing at least 58 video recordings of private moments involving individuals. Some images have also emerged showing Chakanakar holding an umbrella over Kharat’s head while performing ‘Padya Poojan,’ a ritualistic foot-washing ceremony.
Additionally, she has been accused of threatening a journalist who exposed Kharat’s actions a year ago. Chakanakar has promised to respond to all allegations with evidence in due course.
Various political leaders, including her party colleague Rupali Thombare Patil and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, have called for Chakanakar’s immediate resignation to ensure a fair investigation into the matter.
NCP’s working president Praful Patel emphasized the seriousness of the case and assured that strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty. He cautioned against jumping to conclusions based solely on photographs.
NCP state president Sunil Tatkare later stated that the government would adopt a firm stance in this matter and ensure strict action against the culprits, while the party would support a fair investigation.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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