Sexual harassment allegations against an influential astrologer, Ashok Kharat, have led to the resignation of State Women’s Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar. Her resignation came after several photos and videos went viral on social media, showing her with the self-proclaimed godman and occult practitioner.
Since the allegations against Kharat surfaced, the opposition parties have been demanding Chaknakar’s resignation. It is reported that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asked her to submit her resignation. Chaknakar submitted her resignation to Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar.
In the viral photos and videos, Chaknakar was seen holding an umbrella over Kharat and touching and washing his feet.
आरोपी ज्योतिषी अशोक खरात यांची पाद्यपूजा करतानाचा चाकणकरांचा व्हिडिओ सुषमा अंधारेंकडून वायरल | Ashok Kharat | Rupali Chakankar | Sushma Andhare#rupalichakankar #ashokkharatnashik #ashokkharatal #ashokkharatarrest #sushmaandhare #nashik #nashikcrime #crime #crimenews… pic.twitter.com/m6lcHNTpGG
— Time Maharashtra (@TimeMaharashtra) March 18, 2026
Kharat was arrested by the police after a 35-year-old woman filed a complaint against him, alleging that he raped her in Nashik, Maharashtra, in the name of performing some rituals. She alleged that 67-year-old Kharat had intoxicated and hypnotised her before raping. He was arrested at his Nashik farmhouse through a covert operation. During a search at his farmhouse, the police found a pistol, live cartridges, and several spent cartridges.
Police investigation into the allegation against Kharat revealed that he sexually exploited multiple women who approached him for consultation or seeking solutions to their problems. The FIR against him reportedly states that Kharat, a retired Merchant Navy officer, refers to himself as ‘Captain’. He used to call women to his office by promising them solutions to their personal problems.
When the office arrived at his office to meet him, he would hypnotise them by feeding them an intoxicant. He would then sexually exploit these women by threatening them with the death of their husbands or occult practices. Kharat had installed a CCTV camera in his office, through which all his criminal acts were recorded. During the investigation, police found a pendrive containing 58 videos showing him indulging in obscene acts with different women.
The Maharashtra government has formed a Special Investigation Team led by IPS officer Tejaswini Satpute to investigate the matter. Kharat has an office named ‘Oakus Property Dealers and Developers’ in Nashik’s upscale Canada Corner locality. He had the reputation of being a skilled astrologer with divine powers. He is said to have political connections in Maharashtra as well as in Delhi. Several influential persons paid frequent visits to Ishanyeshwar Temple, Nashik’s Sinnar, which was owned by him.
