NCP leader Rupali Chakankar, involved in the Captain Ashok Kharat issue, stepped down on Friday as Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women. This decision came after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed her to resign, following a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar. Fadnavis had earlier asked her to step down during a meeting at his residence, Varsha.
Chakankar, a trustee at Shri Shivnika Sansthan in Nashik district, where Kharat is the president, faced criticism after a video emerged of her washing Kharat’s feet. In response, Fadnavis ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the allegations against Kharat, which include sexual assault and filming women. Chakankar, in a letter to Maharashtra DGP Sadanand Date, called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter.
The controversy deepened with the discovery of a pen drive containing 58 private video recordings and photos showing Chakankar performing rituals for Kharat. Allegations of her involvement in black magic rituals and protecting Kharat were made by various individuals, including Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare and activist Anjali Damania. Leaders from different parties demanded Chakankar’s resignation to ensure a fair investigation.
NCP working president Praful Patel emphasized the seriousness of the issue and promised strict action against the guilty parties. He urged against jumping to conclusions based solely on photographs. NCP state president Sunil Tatkare assured that the government would take a strong stance and ensure justice, with the party supporting an unbiased inquiry.
