Mumbai: Maharashtra politics was rocked once again when startling claims emerged that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had spoken over the phone at least 17 times with self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, who is currently in jail facing multiple serious charges.
Social activist Anjali Damania dropped the bombshell, stating she received Kharat’s Call Detail Records (CDR) via WhatsApp from an unknown number. She alleged that besides Shinde, several leaders from the BJP and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had also been in contact with the controversial figure.
The revelation has intensified the political storm surrounding the Kharat case. The godman was arrested on March 18 on charges of raping a woman for three years. Investigations later uncovered additional allegations of sexual exploitation and financial irregularities, leading to a total of eight FIRs against him so far.
Maharashtra Congress has launched a sharp attack on the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant questioned how highly sensitive investigation details are repeatedly leaking into the public domain. “Is the government misusing state machinery to settle personal scores?” he asked, adding that the leaks point either to serious negligence by investigating agencies or a deliberate attempt at political vendetta.
Sawant further pointed out that earlier leaks, including videos of women linked to the case, had already caused immense mental and social harm to several families. “This is unfortunate for the state. When probe agencies fail to protect confidential evidence, public trust in the system gets eroded,” he said.
The Opposition has demanded strict accountability and a thorough probe into the source of these repeated leaks. As the controversy deepens, the Kharat episode continues to expose deep fault lines in Maharashtra’s power corridors, raising serious questions about the integrity of the ongoing investigation and the role of those in power.