PUNE: Under fire over her alleged association with the arrested astrologer Ashok Kharat, Rupali Chakankar on Friday resigned as the state president of NCP’s women wing. She had last week resigned from her post as chief of the state women’s commission.Chakankar took to her X handle on Friday to inform that she had a telephone conversation with deputy chief minister and NCP chief Sunetra Pawar earlier in the day, following which she submitted her resignation letter to her. “On the first day of the Kharat case coming to light, I have made my stand clear (about the case). I am not even remotely connected with his financial transaction or evil deed. During the course of investigation, all the facts will come out but it is painful to see some baseless allegations are being made against me. I have already conveyed to the chief minister, deputy chief minister and Director General of Police that the investigation of Kharat’s case should be conducted in an impartial manner,” she wrote. Some office-bearers of NCP from Nashik, Ahilyanagar and some other districts had written to Sunetra, demanding the removal of Chakankar from the post of state president of the women’s wing, claiming that the party’s image was being compromised due to her “association” with the astrologer.Anu Malik given clean chit, says AndhareShiv Sena (UBT)’s Sushma Andhare claimed Chakankar had absolved music director Anu Malik in a sexual harassment case and later her son featured in a film produced by him. “Anu Malik was given a clean chit. After that, Soham Chakankar, Rupali Chakankar’s son, got work in a film by Anu Malik’s production,” the Sena (UBT) leader claimed. Malik denied he had given any work to the NCP politician’s son and stated he had first got a clean chit from the National Commission for Women. He said he was given a clean chit first by the National Commission for Women, and then by Maharashtra women’s commission. He had done nothing wrong, the music director said, adding, “I have not given any work and done no favours to anyone. There was no role given to any person (as alleged by Andhare).” (With inputs from PTI)
