Pranjal Khewalkar involved in human trafficking, alleges chief of state women’s commission; Khadses debunk charges

Addressing a press conference in Pune on Thursday, Chakankar accused Khewalkar of luring migrant women to Pune on the pretext of providing them jobs and then forcing them to do ‘wrong things.’

“The commission had earlier asked the Pune police to investigate the matter. We have received the report, which is absolutely shocking. After the police raided the Kharadi house, they had taken Khewalkar and his associates into custody and seized 10 moibles phones, hookah pot and drugs. From the cellphone seized from Hadapsar house of Khewalkar, police found nude photos of some women in hidden folders,” said Chakankar.

“Khewalkar had called some women to Lonavala and other places on the promise of giving them work in a flim. The police investigation has revealed that besides Lonavala, the women were asked come to Jalgaon, Sakinaka and Goa. These women have been sexually exploited. There is a possibility of human trafficking,” said the chairperson of the state women’s panel.

“In the hidden folder of one of the mobiles seized, there were several objectionable photos and videos. The women were stripped and drugged before their objectionable photos were taken, which were later used to blackmail them. Infact, Khewalkar himself can be seen in the videos,” she said.

“The police also found videos and photos of women who work as househelps or sweepers. A man named ‘Aarush’ was tasked with the job of luring women. It is a case of human trafficking and exploitation of women,” said Chakankar.

“I have urged the state government to set up an Special Investigation Team. It is important that a thorough investigation be done on how the women were brought and how they were exploited. This is a big organised racket,” she said.

Meanwhile, Khewalkar’s wife Rohini Khadse, who is also the Maharashtra women’s wing chief of the NCP (SP), alleged that Chakankar was indulging in a pre-scripted drama, which reveals as if the outcome was already decided.

Khadse said the Sanvi Multipurpose Charitable Trust had lodged the complaint with the commission in this matter. “The trust is headed by a NCP women wing leader..Where was the trust when Vaishnavi Hagawane ended her life because of the atrocities by her in-laws?”

Reacting to Chakankar’s charges, former minister and NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse said, “The allegations seem as if Chakankar herself is the investigating officer who has conducted the probe. Chakankar is a member of a political party. The police, and not her, should provide all such information.”

“Chakankar and Rohini Khadse have bitter relations and it seems because of it, she is taking it out on my daughter. She should speak the truth,” said Eknath Khadse.

“I would like to state that I would not side with my son-in-law. My only demand is that police should continue its investigation. It should not be given to SIT. It can be given to CBI if there is any grain of truth. If my son-in-law is involved, then hang him. But they should not resort to defamation without any concrete proof. This case is about drugs. The police have told the court that it was not a rave party. The police said he had not taken drugs…The police should place the truth before the people,” said the senior politician.

When contacted, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said, “We have already sent the investigation report to the commission. It was done as per the commission’s directives. I would not like to reveal the details of the report.”