In a shocking turn of events, Rupali Chakankar resigned from her position at the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission on March 20, 2026, amid a scandal involving Ashok Kharat, who has been arrested on serious charges including rape, molestation, and cheating.
The controversy intensified when a video surfaced showing Kharat urinating into a glass and offering it to a woman, which went viral in mid-March. This incident has drawn widespread condemnation and raised questions about Kharat’s alleged predatory behavior, which reportedly spanned several years.
Authorities have filed a total of eight cases against Kharat, with two additional FIRs for rape being registered recently. Notably, Kharat’s case is being prosecuted under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, highlighting the bizarre nature of the allegations.
Witnesses and victims have come forward, with Neeraj Jadhav claiming to have recorded over a hundred videos of alleged assaults by Kharat. Three women have agreed to lodge formal complaints, detailing a pattern of coercion and threats, including the use of plastic snakes and tiger skins to intimidate them.
Chakankar’s involvement has also raised eyebrows, as she was listed as a trustee of Kharat’s charitable trust, Shivanika. Following her resignation, she stated that her finger injury was due to an accident during a ritual, a claim that has been met with skepticism.
The political ramifications are significant, with figures like Devendra Fadnavis asserting that “nothing happens through black magic,” while others, like Raj Thackeray, suggest that the scandal may be used to undermine political ambitions.
As the investigation unfolds, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted on March 13, 2026, is expected to delve deeper into Kharat’s extensive network, which has reportedly included politicians, bureaucrats, and police officers over his two-decade career.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full extent of Kharat’s operations and the implications for those involved. Observers are closely monitoring the situation as more information is anticipated in the coming days.
