Maharashtra’s government has stepped up its response to a growing controversy surrounding the arrest of self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announcing two parallel inquiries — one into the suspected leak of confidential call data records (CDRs) and another into the financial footprint of the accused.
Fadnavis said that the alleged unauthorised disclosure of call records in the Kharat case — which were reportedly circulated on WhatsApp by a social activist — will be thoroughly examined by the state government so authorities can determine how and by whom the sensitive information was accessed. He stressed that only law enforcement agencies have the legal right to obtain CDRs.
The government’s move has put the spotlight on data privacy norms, as the exposure of such records triggered a political uproar because the leaked file reportedly showed multiple calls involving high-profile political figures, including Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched its own investigation into Kharat’s financial dealings after his mid-March arrest on rape and other charges. Fadnavis said ED teams are already scrutinising bank accounts, land dealings and other assets connected to Kharat, with the aim of uncovering any illegal wealth accumulation or financial irregularities linked to his network.
Authorities have also noted increased public cooperation with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe multiple alleged crimes — including sexual exploitation and fraud — and said that more complainants are coming forward as confidence in the inquiry grows.
While the government has insisted that the case will be handled strictly on legal merit, critics have raised questions about how confidential information became public and whether the leak itself was aimed at influencing the narrative around the ongoing probe.
