Mumbai, April 1 The NCP (SP) on Wednesday demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged links between political leaders and self-proclaimed godman Ashok Kharat, based on photos of them with him, while Maharashtra minister Aditi Tatkare asserted that these pictures do not imply that the politicians endorse his wrongdoings.
Tatkare also said that the state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate Kharat, and the truth will come out.
Speaking to reporters, NCP (SP)'s Maharashtra unit president Shashikant Shinde said that there were reports about photos of several prominent leaders with Kharat, and he demanded a thorough investigation.
He also stressed the need to further strengthen laws against superstition, warning that statements made in the name of religion could create social discord and tension.
Kharat, who headed a temple trust at Mirgaon in Sinnar tehsil of Nashik district and was visited by several prominent political leaders, was arrested on March 18 after a 35-year-old woman accused him of repeated rape over a period of three years.
Following his arrest, photos of several prominent political leaders with him are circulating on social media.
In the wake of Kharat's arrest, NCP leader Rupali Chakankar resigned as the Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women last month, after the opposition targeted her over her alleged links with the accused. A few days later, she also stepped down as the head of the women's wing of the party.
Speaking to reporters, minister Tatkare said, "No political leader supports Kharat for his condemnable acts. The cases against him are being investigated."
Tatkare, who is the Minister for Women and Child Development and an NCP leader, also cautioned against drawing conclusions from the photos of leaders seen with Kharat at public events.
"The photos of leaders from different political parties circulating on social media do not imply endorsement or prior knowledge of any wrongdoing. If anyone was aware of such an act, no politician in Maharashtra would have associated with that individual," she said.
"Making unsubstantiated allegations and naming individuals without evidence only leads to mutual defamation," she added.