Under fire over links with rape accused godman, Maharashtra women’s panel chief quits

Sources have confirmed that Rupali Chakankar, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission, who has faced criticism for her relationship with rape-accused ‘godman’ Ashok Kharat, submitted her resignation on Friday, March 20, 2026, after being asked to leave the post by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Hindu. He was summoned to ‘Varsha’, the official residence of the Prime Minister, on Friday, March 20, 2026. The chairperson of the women panel was scheduled to meet Deputy Prime Minister Sunetra Pawar on Friday night, March 20, 2026, to make a statement and subsequently tender her resignation.

“We told him that morally it is not going well to continue with this position anymore. He will meet Sunetra Pawar and put forward his side. After he submits his resignation to Suentra Vahini, the party will decide what to do with it,” said a senior NCP leader. Hindu.

The opposition has come down hard on Mahayuti for his alleged lack of coordination and the BJP’s efforts to centralize power.

Rupali Chakankar said that she was targeted because she was a woman. He added that the video showing Ashok Kharat washing his feet is 5-6 years old. “Our family considered the Kharat couple as our guru. The guru had retreated to Paurnima. Nobody knows how this person will behave in the future. I too was shocked by the incident.

He justified all his previous actions by saying that false news had been spread about him. He said he wanted strong steps to be taken on the issue. “I have submitted my resignation to Sunetra Pawar. She will take a phone call regarding this issue,” he said while talking to reporters in Pune.

The step was taken after Ms. Chakankar’s name was linked to self-proclaimed godman and numerologist Ashok Kharat, who was accused of allegedly raping and blackmailing several women. He is currently detained. Photos and videos showing Ms. Chakankar washing her feet and holding an umbrella for herself went viral on social media. He and several party members had said there should be an impartial investigation into the matter, regardless of videos and photos. Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam also entered the debate and said public leaders do not always know the background of people with whom they take photos and shoot videos in public.

The opposition targeted the government on the issue and asked for the resignation of the chairman of the board, which consists of women. The issue has also been raised in the ongoing budget session of the Maharashtra Assembly.

After the news of the resignation demand broke on Friday, March 20, 2026, the Congress criticized the government for its late action. “This is not just about the latest issue. Ms. Chakankar had sided with the accused in many other issues in the past. She had hardly defended the rights of women and victims. Even in this matter, it was not just about washing the feet of Ashok Kharat. It was Ms. Chakankar who had threatened a journalist more than a year ago and apologized to her for an issue related to Kharat. This shows her involvement in the conspiracy. The women’s commission had issued a show case. Then how was such a notice sent? She should be dismissed as soon as her name was mentioned. should have,” said Harshawardhan Sapkal, president of the Maharashtra Congress. Hindu.

Instead, he said, he was given an honorable exit.

He also lashed out at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over his demand for resignation. “This is an attempt by the BJP to centralize power. As the Home Minister, he knew everything. Then why did he not act? It was the government that said he was wrong even in the Parth Pawar issue. It was the same government that gave him a clean chit. This is nothing but political supremacism on Mahayuti,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Women’s Commission wrote to the Director General of Police of Maharashtra, requesting an investigation into the matter by the Special Investigation Team.

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