Mumbai, March 21 (NationPress) On Saturday, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president, Sunetra Pawar, submitted the resignation of Rupali Chakankar, the head of the state's women wing and Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for appropriate action.

Chakankar's resignation came after a directive from the Chief Minister following a growing controversy surrounding her alleged connections with a self-proclaimed spiritual leader, Ashok Kharat. She handed her resignation directly to Deputy CM Pawar.

In a post shared on X, Deputy CM Pawar stated, “I have received Rupali Chakankar’s resignation. Considering the existing circumstances and the ongoing inquiry, she has opted to resign. To guarantee the investigation's integrity and impartiality, I am forwarding her resignation to the Honourable Chief Minister for further processing.”

Chakankar expressed to the media on Friday that she feels she is being unfairly targeted due to her gender.

She remarked, “My family has long adhered to the Warkari tradition, which is why we were associated with Kharat's trust. However, I was unaware of his other behaviors. How can anyone predict a person's future actions? Many individuals have photos with Kharat, yet it pains me that I am being singled out and blamed simply because I am a woman.”

Chakankar clarified that her connection with Ashok Kharat’s trust was based on her family's historical ties to the Warkari community. She acknowledged viewing Kharat and his wife as spiritual mentors but stressed that the videos circulating online are nearly six years old.

Defending her stance, Chakankar noted that the viral images are outdated and that her family regarded Kharat as a spiritual guide, unaware of any alleged misconduct. She reiterated her decision to resign to allow for a “fair and transparent investigation,” emphasizing her desire not to hinder justice.

The uproar began after Ashok Kharat, a self-styled spiritual figure from Nashik, was arrested for accusations of sexual exploitation and rape by multiple women. Social media has been inundated with photos and videos showing Chakankar in close proximity to Kharat, including instances where she performed rituals and washed his feet.

Opposition leaders, including members from Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, have ramped up their calls for her resignation, asserting that her position as the Women's Commission head could compromise the investigation into Kharat's alleged offenses. The state government has already established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by IPS officer Tejasvi Satpute to delve into the allegations against Kharat.