The issue was raised by Congress leader Vijay Waddetiwar, who was supported by other opposition members demanding strict action against Kharat and his associates.

The CM’s statement comes amid a fast-widening scandal around Kharat, who has now been booked in five FIRs. He was arrested on March 17 after a woman approached Sarkarwada police station in Nashik alleging that he had sexually assaulted her repeatedly between 2022 and 2025. The case was transferred to a Special Investigation Team, constituted by the state government on March 13, on March 18.

Since his arrest, two more FIRs have been registered against him. A former staffer turned whistleblower filed a complaint alleging that Kharat had sexually assaulted a pregnant woman known to him, and revealed that he had secretly installed a hidden camera inside Kharat’s office cabin after learning of the assault.

The footage, submitted to police on a pen drive, allegedly shows multiple women being given substances and then exploited. A fifth FIR was filed by another woman who alleged Kharat raped her repeatedly between 2020 and 2026, impregnated her, and later gave her pills that caused a miscarriage.

Police have so far recovered more than 100 video clips, along with cash, a weapon and property documents suggesting a network of assets linked to Kharat and his family members running into several crores. The SIT is examining whether more women may have been targeted using similar methods.