Maharashtra: Deputy Collector Suspended Over Links to Arrested Godman Ashok Kharat

The Maharashtra government has suspended Deputy Collector Abhijit Bhande-Patil due to his alleged connections with self-styled godman Ashok Kharat. This marks the first official action taken against a government employee following the scandal that shook the state earlier this year. Bhande-Patil was serving with the Slum Rehabilitation Authority in Mumbai when the suspension was announced on May 14.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule stated that a preliminary investigation revealed Bhande-Patil's links to Kharat. Kharat was arrested in March after a woman accused him of rape, with further investigations uncovering financial irregularities involving benami bank bank accounts and questionable land dealings.

The minister emphasized that Bhande-Patil appears to be guilty based on initial findings. The government decided to suspend him pending the completion of the investigation. Earlier in March, the Maharashtra government had already repatriated Bhande-Patil to his parent department as part of the initial response to the case.