Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the state assembly regarding the arrest of self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, accused of rape, assuring a thorough investigation and protection for potential victims.
A 28-year-old man and his two minor sons were found dead in a canal in Nashik district, Maharashtra, with police investigating a possible suicide. The man had left home after a dispute with his wife, and one child remains missing.
The SIT investigating self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, who faces multiple rape accusations, has made significant breakthroughs.
Police have registered a case against a self-styled godman from Maharashtra's Palghar district for allegedly raping a 35-year-old Pune-based woman after claiming to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva, officials said on Friday.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare has called for a thorough investigation into the Ashok Kharat case, urging Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to prioritise the investigation over political manoeuvring. Andhare also demanded that the SIT probe former minister Deepak Kesarkar and former state women's commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar.
Rupali Chakankar, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, has resigned following criticism over her association with Ashok Kharat, a self-proclaimed godman accused of rape. She submitted her resignation to Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing allegations against Ashok Kharat, a self-styled godman accused of rape, has received a surge of calls providing information and reporting alleged crimes after a public appeal.
Self-styled 'godman' and numerologist Ashok Kharat has been arrested in Nashik on charges of sexual assault and black magic, setting off a political storm. How did he manage to operate undetected for so long?
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing allegations against Ashok Kharat, a self-styled godman accused of rape, has received over 50 calls reporting crimes allegedly committed by him. Police have registered eight FIRs against Kharat, who is accused of sexually exploiting women and other crimes.
Following the resignation of Maharashtra State Women's Commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar, Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad calls for a comprehensive probe into the Ashok Kharat case, demanding investigation of all individuals allegedly linked to the self-styled godman arrested for rape.
The Maharashtra government sanctioned over Rs 1 crore for development works at a temple linked to Ashok Kharat, a self-styled godman accused of rape, in 2018. The funds were approved under the regional tourism development scheme. Kharat was arrested on March 18 after being accused of repeated rape.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing allegations against astrologer Ashok Kharat has questioned a temple priest and watchman, while further investigations reveal potential property fraud and misuse of water resources.
Police in Thane have arrested a dentist from Nashik for allegedly facilitating illegal surrogate mother contracts and egg smuggling at an IVF facility. The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into an inter-state racket involving the exploitation of women for egg donation.
A Pune-based businessman has accused self-styled godman Ashok Kharat of defrauding him of Rs 6 crore (600,000) under the guise of helping him establish a logistics business abroad. This is the eighth case registered against Kharat, who is already in police custody on separate charges.
Opposition parties are demanding the resignation of Maharashtra State Women's Commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar due to her alleged connections with a self-proclaimed numerologist, Ashok Kharat, who has been arrested for rape and exploitation.
The incident took place at 4pm and the deceased are from Pimpalgaon Baswant in Niphad taluka, the official added.
The Congress Legislature Party leader in Maharashtra raises concerns about law and order due to missing girls and the impact of unseasonal rains on farmers, criticising the government's response.
The Maharashtra State Women's Commission is investigating a major illegal human egg extraction racket in Thane district, where vulnerable women were exploited for multiple donation cycles using forged documents. The investigation revealed unauthorized IVF clinic operations and unqualified individuals administering medical procedures.
Rupali Chakankar, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, has resigned following criticism over her association with rape-accused 'godman' Ashok Kharat. The resignation comes after opposition parties highlighted Chakankar's links with Kharat, who is accused of sexual assault and fraud.
Seven Class X students of a hostel in Igatpuri, Nashik, have been booked for allegedly sexually abusing junior students. The hostel superintendent has also been booked for failing to take action after being informed of the abuse.
The notice was issued under Section 41 of the CrPC, a police official said.
Seven individuals, including a local outfit president, have been booked for unlawful assembly and creating public nuisance after allegedly offering namaz inside the Malegaon Municipal Corporation's electricity department office. The incident has sparked controversy and led to protests.
An investigation into an illegal human egg extraction and sale racket in Badlapur, India, has revealed potential links to Bengaluru and Telangana, with authorities uncovering the exploitation of numerous women and violations of reproductive technology regulations.
A mob attacked police personnel during the demolition of an unauthorized dargah in Nashik, Maharashtra, injuring 21 officers and damaging three police vehicles. The incident occurred late Tuesday night after the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) began removing the Satpeer Baba Dargah following a Bombay High Court order. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob and detained 15 individuals in connection with the violence. The situation is now under control, with the dargah demolished and an FIR filed against the perpetrators.
Police in Palghar, Maharashtra, have registered a case against four individuals for allegedly selling a tribal woman for marriage for Rs 3 lakh and subjecting her to harassment. The woman alleges physical and mental torture, casteist slurs, and assault.
The Maharashtra State Election Commission on Friday announced that Thursday, January 15, will be a public holiday in areas falling under the 29 municipal corporations where polling for civic elections will be held, an official said.
Indrani Mukerjea, in pure white, sporting dancing pearl jhumkas, bobbed about the accused box, occasionally floating up front to whisper urgent suggestions to her lawyer Ranjeet Sangle as retired cop and prosecution witness Dinesh Kadam gave her a long look. Vaihayasi Pande Daniel returns to cover the Sheena Bora murder trial after 18 months.
Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate was stripped of his portfolios after being convicted in a 1995 cheating and forgery case. His ministries have been reassigned to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Kokate has been admitted to Lilavati Hospital after complaining of chest pain.
Nationalist Congress Party minister Manikrao Kokate has resigned from the Maharashtra Cabinet after a court upheld his conviction and two-year jail term in a 1995 cheating and forgery case. This marks the second NCP minister to resign this year.
Polling for 2,869 seats spread across 893 wards in these municipal corporations began amid tight security at 7.30 am and will conclude at 5.30 pm. A total of 3.48 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 15,931 candidates.
Maharashtra heads to the polls for 29 municipal corporations, with Mumbai's BMC election taking center stage as the BJP-led Mahayuti faces off against the Thackeray front. Key issues include promises for women, pollution control, and the city's financial health.
On Tuesday, Kumar issued a public apology on X, acknowledging the error in his original post.
The first phase of polling for municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Maharashtra was disrupted by violence and allegations of bogus voting. Clashes occurred between supporters of ruling allies BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena. The Bombay High Court directed the SEC to postpone the counting of votes.
As many as 18 troopers of Army's School of Artillery have been arrested for allegedly vandalising a police station on the Nashik-Pune Highway and attacking policemen on duty, prompting the Army to initiate a probe into the incident.
In Nashik, around 200km from Mumbai, two groups clashed during a bandh called by the Sakal Hindu Samaj in protest against atrocities on minority community members in the neighbouring country, leading to tension in the Bhadrakali area, where police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
Four persons were killed in a powerful explosion in Saptshrungi Apartment, Tarwala Nagar in Panchavati locality of Nashik on Wednesday, the police said.
Jayant Naiknavare, deputy inspector general of police (VIP security), will replace Pandey as the Nashik police commissioner.
The Supreme Court on Monday granted protection from arrest to psephologist Sanjay Kumar in connection with two FIRs lodged by the Election Commission of India accusing him of spreading misinformation over Maharashtra's electoral rolls through posts on social media.
Salim Zarda, a 55-year-old life convict in the 2002 Godhra train carnage case, was arrested in Pune district for theft. Zarda, who had previously jumped parole on eight occasions, was arrested on January 22 by Pune rural police. He was handed over to Nashik police in connection with a theft case registered there. Zarda was among the 31 persons convicted in the Godhra train carnage case. He was released on parole on September 17, 2024, but failed to return.
Several drownings and missing persons reported across Maharashtra during the immersion of Ganesh idols following the Ganesh festival.
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