Senior Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena leader Sushma Andhare on Monday questioned when Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde would be examined by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the godman “Captain” Ashok Kharat case.
Speaking to media persons, Andhare said, “Is the SIT going to take any action against Eknath Shinde? It is expected that the SIT will do a good job, but we must inevitably question the pace of its investigation. The question arises as to why some information reaches social activist Anjali Damania and me, but not the SIT. Evidence could be destroyed during this time. Eknath Shinde and Deepak Kesarkar are prominent figures, so why are they not being investigated?”
She added, “Social activist Anjali Damania reading out call detail records (CDRs) of godman Ashok Kharat is a very serious matter. Action should certainly be taken against her, but when will the SIT investigate Eknath Shinde, who has been named in the CDRs for making several calls to Kharat? Deepak Kesarkar appears to be a key link in this case. So when will he be called in for questioning by the SIT?”
“Action must be taken against those who leaked the CDRs, but what about those whose names appear in them? Eknath Shinde’s name is in the CDRs—what action will be taken against him? We had made several allegations in the Satara narcotics case, but no action was taken. Details must emerge regarding why Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and former State Women’s Commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar called Ashok Kharat multiple times,” Andhare said.
“Rupali Chakankar has not been called for questioning so far. Why has no action been taken against Ashok Kharat’s close aide Namkaran Aware? Why is Kharat’s chartered accountant, Lalit Pokale, not being investigated? Some senior officials from Nashik are involved, and we informed the SIT, but no action has been taken against them yet,” she added.
Andhare further said, “Deepak Londhe is very close to Ashok Kharat and Deepak Kesarkar. Regardless of Kesarkar’s denials, he appears to be a crucial link in this case. According to the CDRs, Kesarkar was in constant touch with Londhe. What were the conversations between them?”
She also raised concerns over alleged occult practices, stating, “There has been constant discussion about Aghori Vidya, Tantra-Mantra, and animal horns allegedly being buried at the Chief Minister’s Varsha bungalow. There are also claims of strange drawings made on someone’s photograph. If such acts were carried out involving the Chief Minister’s photograph, it is a very serious matter. Who stood to benefit from this? This information must come to light,” Andhare said.