Andhare Alleges Chakankar Stayed With Abuse Accused In Guwahati

A political allegation in Maharashtra has now collided with a deeply disturbing criminal probe.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare has claimed that Rupali Chakankar stayed for three days at Hotel Blue Radisson in Guwahati with Ashok Kharat, the man facing serious charges of sexual abuse, fraud, and exploitation through alleged superstition.

Chakankar, a senior NCP leader and former Maharashtra women’s commission chief, has denied links with Kharat. Andhare has now pushed the matter further by asking whether Chakankar’s sister Pratibha was also present during that stay.

Andhare raises Guwahati hotel claim

Andhare made the allegation through a Facebook post, citing media reports and questioning Chakankar’s public position.

Her charge is simple but politically loaded. If Chakankar says she had no connection with Kharat, Andhare asks why the two allegedly stayed at the same Guwahati hotel for three days.

That is not a small claim in Maharashtra politics. Chakankar has held a role linked directly to women’s safety and rights. Kharat, meanwhile, faces allegations involving women who police say were exploited through fear, so-called divine powers, and ritual claims.

This is why the allegation matters beyond party rivalry. It touches the credibility of public positions, especially when leaders speak on women’s protection.

Andhare also said Chakankar’s name has entered the Kharat matter more deeply now. She pointed to financial irregularity allegations and said the Enforcement Directorate had called Chakankar for questioning.

The Kharat case widens

Ashok Kharat is not facing one isolated complaint.

Police records mentioned in the investigation point to 18 cases across Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts. Of these, eight involve allegations of sexual assault. Others include fraud, offences under anti-superstition law, moneylending rules, and related charges.

A special investigation team began probing 11 cases from March 20, 2026, after directions from the Maharashtra police leadership.

The team includes senior officers and 24 police personnel. Police Superintendent Tejaswi Satpute, Deputy Superintendents Amol Bharti and Kirankumar Suryawanshi, and Senior Police Inspector Trupti Sonawane are among those involved.

The first two cases have already moved to an important stage. The SIT has filed chargesheets running beyond 2,000 pages in those matters.

Police have recorded statements from 105 witnesses. They have also collected oral, physical, documentary, circumstantial, and electronic evidence.

That last part matters. In such cases, the truth rarely sits in one dramatic document. It usually comes through phone records, money trails, messages, hotel logs, witness accounts, and digital material.

Why this case hits nerves

The Kharat case has struck a raw nerve because it combines three familiar Indian anxieties.

First, there is the fear of spiritual fraud. Across states, vulnerable people still meet self-styled godmen who promise cures, relief, marriage solutions, business luck, or protection from imagined threats.

Second, there is the gender question. When women approach such men under emotional pressure, the imbalance becomes dangerous. Police say Kharat used fear of the future, occult claims, and ritual practices to exploit women.

Third, there is the political link. Once a public figure’s name enters such a case, people naturally ask who knew whom, when, and why.

That does not prove guilt. It does raise the bar for explanation.

For ordinary readers, the disturbing part is not just one accused man. It is the ecosystem around such people. They often build social access before they build victims’ trust.

A small business owner, a family under stress, or a woman facing personal trouble may not see the trap early. That is how superstition becomes a business model.

Police track digital fallout

The investigation has also moved online.

Authorities have removed 13,175 links related to objectionable videos. They have also permanently shut 451 social media accounts that posted objectionable material.

This shows another ugly layer of the case. Once such material reaches the internet, victims suffer a second punishment. Their privacy gets dragged into public view.

For families, that damage can feel endless. A court case follows one path, but online circulation follows another. It moves faster, spreads wider, and often ignores dignity.

The SIT has said it will file supplementary chargesheets as more statements and evidence come in. That means the case is still expanding.

The legal process will now test each claim. Courts will examine the evidence against Kharat. Investigators will also need to establish whether any political or financial links have legal weight.

Andhare’s allegations against Chakankar also need careful handling. They are serious, but they remain allegations unless supported by verified records and due process.

Political heat meets legal process

Maharashtra politics has seen many such moments before.

A criminal probe begins in one district. Then a political name appears. Soon, the issue becomes a test of loyalty, denial, paperwork, and public memory.

Parties will try to use the case against each other. That is the predictable part.

The harder question is whether the investigation stays focused on victims, evidence, and accountability. If it becomes only a political slugfest, the women at the centre may get pushed aside.

Chakankar now faces pressure to give a clear explanation. Andhare has framed the question sharply. The SIT, meanwhile, must keep building a case that can stand in court.

For the public, the lesson is plain. Cases involving superstition, money, sexual exploitation, and political access rarely remain simple. They expose how power travels through informal networks.

The coming weeks will show whether this case becomes another noisy controversy, or a serious test of institutional will. For ordinary people, especially women who seek help in moments of fear, that difference matters more than any party headline.