Mumbai, Apr 1 (PTI) The NCP (SP) on Wednesday demanded a thorough probe into the links of political leaders with self-styled godman Ashok Kharat on the basis of their photos with him, while Maharashtra minister Aditi Tatkare asserted these pictures do not imply the politicians endorsed his wrongdoings.

Tatkare also said the state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a probe against Kharat and facts will come to light.

Talking to reporters, NCP (SP)’s Maharashtra unit president Shashikant Shinde said there were talks about the photographs of several prominent leaders with Kharat, and demanded a thorough probe.

He also stressed the need to further strengthen laws against superstition, warning that statements made in the name of religion could create social discord and tension.

Kharat, who headed a temple trust at Mirgaon in Sinnar tehsil of Nashik district and was visited by several prominent political leaders, was arrested on March 18 after a 35-year-old woman accused him of repeated rape over a period of three years.

Following his arrest, the photographs of several prominent political leaders with him are doing rounds on social media.

In the wake of Kharat’s arrest, NCP leader Rupali Chakankar last month resigned as the Maharashtra State Commission for Women chairperson with the Opposition targeted her over her links with the accused. A few days later, she also stepped down as the chief of the women’s wing of the party.

Talking to reporters, minister Tatkare said, “No political leader supports Kharat for his condemnable acts. The cases against him are being probed.” Tatkare, who is women and child development minister and NCP leader, also cautioned against drawing conclusions from the photographs of leaders seen with Kharat at public events.

“The pictures of leaders from different political parties circulating on social media do not imply endorsement or prior knowledge of any wrongdoing. Had anyone been aware of such an act, no politician in Maharashtra would have associated with that individual,” the said.

“Making unsubstantiated allegations and naming individuals without evidence only leads to mutual defamation,” she added. PTI MR NP