14 April,2026 08:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Rupali Chakankar. Pic/X
Former Maharashtra State Women's Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar on Tuesday broke her silence over allegations linked to a self-styled godman, strongly denying any wrongdoing and alleging a "deliberate and fabricated" campaign to defame her and her family, reported IANS.
The controversy centres around an anonymous letter currently under investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which purportedly links Chakankar to accused godman Ashok Kharat.
Chakankar questioned how the unsigned and unverified letter reached media organisations before being officially examined by authorities. She alleged that the document was deliberately circulated to trigger widespread debate and damage her reputation, reported IANS.
According to her, such actions point to a coordinated attempt to malign her image. She demanded that those responsible for leaking the letter be identified and held accountable.
The NCP leader urged authorities to conduct a thorough inquiry to trace the source and authorship of what she described as a "mischievous" document, reported IANS.
She also cited remarks made by Beed Superintendent of Police Navneet Kanwat, who reportedly stated that anonymous complaints without identifiable details hold no legal validity.
Despite this, Chakankar insisted that the issue warranted investigation, particularly to establish how such a document entered the public domain, reported IANS.
Addressing the allegations directly, Chakankar categorically denied any involvement in financial irregularities, land dealings, or any criminal activity connected to the case, reported IANS.
She said neither she nor her family had any association with misconduct of any kind and described the accusations as baseless and speculative.
Chakankar further expressed concern over what she termed a "dangerous trend" of public shaming based on unverified claims, rumours, and narratives lacking evidence, reported IANS.
Explaining her absence from public commentary over the past few weeks, Chakankar said her silence was intentional to allow investigative agencies to carry out their work without external pressure, reported IANS.
She stated that she wanted to avoid influencing the probe or contributing to what she described as "one-sided narratives" in the media.
Concluding her statement, Chakankar expressed confidence in the legal system, asserting that the truth would eventually come to light, reported IANS.
She maintained that facts and evidence would ultimately prevail over speculation, reiterating her trust in the ongoing investigation and judicial process.
(With inputs from IANS)
