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

Facing flak over her association with rape-accused ‘godman’ Ashok Kharat, Maharashtra State Commission for Women chairperson Rupali Chakankar on Friday (March 20, 2026) tendered her resignation, after being asked to step down from her position by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, sources confirmed to The Hindu. She was called to ‘Varsha’, the official residence of the Chief Minister, on Friday (March 20, 2026). The women’s panel chief was slated to meet Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Friday (March 20, 2026) night to give an explanation and to thereafter tender her resignation.

“We told her that on moral grounds, it did not fare well to hold the position anymore. She will meet Sunetra Pawar, and will put forth her side. After she tenders her resignation to Suentra Vahini, the party will decide what is to be done with it,” a senior NCP leader told The Hindu.

Opposition took a swipe at the Mahayuti over the alleged lack of coordination and the BJP’s alleged efforts to centralise power.

Rupali Chakankar said she was being targeted because she is a woman. She added that the video showing her washing the feet of Ashok Kharat was five-six years old. “Our family had considered the Kharat couple as our gurus. It was taken on Guru Paurnima. One cannot know how the person will behave in the future. I was myself shocked by the incident. 

She justified all her previous actions, saying wrong news was being spread about her. She said she had sought strong action in the matter. “I have tendered my resignation to Sunetra Pawar. She will take a call on it,” she said while speaking with reporters in Pune.

The step was taken after Ms Chakankar’s name was associated with self-proclaimed godman and numerologist Ashok Kharat, who is accused of allegedly raping and blackmailing several women. He is currently under arrest. Ms Chakankar’s photos and videos showing her washing his feet and holding an umbrella for him had gone viral on social media. She and a few of her party members had said that irrespective of the videos and photos, impartial probe should be conducted in the matter. Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam too had jumped into the controversy, saying that public leaders do not always know the background of the people they are photographed and videographed with in public.

The Opposition had targeted the government over the issue, seeking the resignation of the women’s panel chief. The issue was raised in the ongoing budget session of the Maharashtra Assembly as well.

On Friday (March 20, 2026), after the news of the demand for resignation came out, Congress slammed the government for its late action. “This is not just about the recent matter. In several other matters in the past, Ms Chakankar was found siding with the accused. She hardly ever stood for the rights of the women and the victims. Even in this matter, it is not just about washing Ashok Kharat’s feet. Over a year ago, it was Ms Chakankar who had threatened a journalist and had sought his apology for a matter related to Kharat. This shows that she was involved in the conspiracy. Women’s commission had issued a show cause notice then. How was such a notice sent? As soon as her name came up, she should have been dismissed,” Maharashtra Congress president Harshawardhan Sapkal told The Hindu.

He said that she has been given a dignified exit instead.

He also hit out at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over his demand for the resignation. “This is the BJP’s effort to centralise power. As the Home Minister, he knew of everything. Why didn’t he act then? Even in the Parth Pawar matter, it was the government which said that he was at fault. It was the same government which gave him a clean chit. This is nothing but political oneupmanship in Mahayuti,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Women’s Commission has written to the Maharashtra Director General of Police, seeking a probe by a Special Investigation Team in the matter. 

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