Maharashtra Minister Demands Investigation Into Leaked Call Records in Sensitive Case
State Industries Minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant has called for an immediate investigation into the unauthorized leakage of sensitive information related to the ongoing rape case involving astrologer Ashok Kharat. The minister's strong statement came during a press interaction in Pune on Friday, where he addressed recent allegations involving high-profile political figures.
Damania's Explosive Allegations and Call Record Claims
Activist Anjali Damania sparked the controversy earlier on Friday when she presented detailed allegations to media in Mumbai. According to Damania, she had obtained call detail record (CDR) data from an anonymous source that revealed extensive communication between Kharat and several prominent politicians.
The most significant claim involved Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde. Damania asserted that there were 17 recorded calls between Shinde and Kharat, with 10 being incoming and 7 outgoing. "These are normal calls. We do not know how many calls were made on WhatsApp. Shinde needs to reveal what these calls were about," Damania stated, though she did not specify the time period during which these alleged conversations occurred.
Extensive Call Patterns Revealed in Leaked Data
The leaked call records reportedly showed extensive communication patterns beyond just Shinde's alleged involvement:
- 177 calls with Nationalist Congress Party's Rupali Chakankar, who recently stepped down as state women's commission chief following the controversy
- 8 calls with NCP MP Sunil Tatkare
- 8 calls with BJP's Minister for Higher and Technical Education Chandrakant Patil
- 1 call with BJP's Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar
Damania provided particularly detailed analysis of the calls between Kharat and Chakankar, noting that the 177 calls amounted to 33,727 seconds of conversation time. "This comes second only to the calls recorded with his relative Trupti Kharat," she revealed, adding that Chakankar's sister Pratibha had 236 recorded calls with the accused astrologer.
"How can so many calls be exchanged in that case?" Damania questioned, referring to Chakankar's claim that she only had family relations with Kharat and was merely his devotee. The activist suggested the volume of communication indicated a relationship beyond that of guru and devotee.
Samant's Strong Rebuttal and Security Concerns
Minister Uday Samant responded forcefully to these allegations, dismissing them as a politically motivated smear campaign against Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. "Shinde has proven his mettle through bold leadership and decisive governance. Any attempt to target him by claiming he made calls to certain individuals will not diminish his stature," Samant declared during his Pune press conference.
The minister expressed particular concern about how sensitive investigative data had been accessed by unauthorized parties. "Information related to a sensitive criminal case like Kharat's should remain strictly with the investigating police," Samant emphasized. "There is an urgent need to identify who leaked this data to an outside party, and the government will ensure this breach is thoroughly investigated."
Samant suggested that the allegations represented an attempt by political opponents to undermine Shinde's leadership. "It appears some people cannot digest his success and are deliberately trying to malign him through these tactics," the minister concluded, calling for a proper investigation into both the substance of the allegations and the security breach that made the information public.
