Anjali Damania claims links between senior cop and 'godman' Ashok Kharat; Congress MP raises 'encounter' prospects

Activist Anjali Damania on Tuesday alleged links between a senior police officer and selfstyled godman Ashok Kharat currently under investigation in multiple criminal cases including sexual assault and cheatingThe claims come amid an ongoing probe by state authorities and parallel investigations into alleged financial irregularitiesActivist seeks vigilance probe against senior police officerDamania alleged that Nashik Range Inspector General of Police Dattatray Karale had attended a public programme where Kharat was present and even addressed the gatheringQuestioning the officerrsquos presence at such an event she demanded a departmental vigilance inquiry She also claimed that call records indicated multiple contacts linked to the accused IG departmental vigilance hellip pictwittercomFWq0dHHpdTmdash Mrs Anjali Damania anjali_damania April 13 2026Damania urged Director General of Police Sadanand Date to seek clarification on the matter There was no immediate response from Karale despite attempts to contact himED probe underway into financial transactionsKharat who is currently in police custody is facing several cases including allegations of sexual assault and cheating The Enforcement Directorate is also probing a suspected money laundering angle and has conducted searches at locations linked to the accusedAuthorities are examining financial transactions and related entities as part of the broader investigationCongress MP raises lsquoencounterrsquo concernSeparately Congress MP Praniti Shinde stirred controversy by suggesting the possibility of an ldquoencounterrdquo killing of the accusedShe claimed that as the investigation progresses names of individuals linked to the ruling establishment in Maharashtra could emerge Shinde also questioned the governmentrsquos stance on womenrsquos safety in light of the caseBJP urges restraint asks leaders to aid probeReacting to the developments Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule called for restraint urging political leaders to avoid making speculative statementsHe said that individuals with information related to the case should cooperate with the Special Investigation Team rather than making public claims Bawankule stressed the need for responsible conduct especially in sensitive matters under investigationFresh claims over financial links and accountsIn a separate statement Damania also raised questions about alleged financial links involving Pratibha Chakankar sister of former Maharashtra State Womenrsquos Commission chairperson Rupali ChakankarShe disputed claims regarding alleged fake accounts citing call data records and communication exchanges over an extended period Damania questioned how such interactions could be dismissed as fabricatedPolice officials confirmed that Pratibha Chakankar was questioned in connection with alleged use of her bank account by Kharat Authorities are examining accounts held in her name and that of her son in a cooperative credit society as part of the probeInvestigation continues amid political controversyThe case has triggered a political storm in Maharashtra with allegations counterallegations and demands for accountability intensifying