Maharashtra: Deputy Collector suspended over ties to arrested Godman Kharat

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has suspended a deputy collector for his alleged links with self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, in the first such crackdown on officials after the case rocked the state earlier this year.

The action was taken against Deputy Collector Abhijit Bhande-Patil, posted with the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) in Mumbai, on Thursday, May 14.

Preliminary probe suggests he has links with Kharat, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said.

Kharat was arrested in March this year after a woman accused him of rape, with a subsequent probe pointing to alleged financial irregularities involving ‘benami’ bank accounts as well as dubious land dealings.

“So he, prima facie, appears to be guilty. I have decided to suspend Bhande-Patil. Till the probe is over, we have decided to suspend Bhande-Patil,” Bawankule said.

In March, the Maharashtra government repatriated Bhande-Patil to his parent department.