Union Minister Raksha Khadse. File
| Photo Credit: X/@khadseraksha

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs Raksha Khadse on Sunday (March 2, 2025) said her daughter and her friends were followed and harassed by some men when they were participating in Sant Muktai Yatra held on the occasion of Mahashivratri in Kothali village of Muktainagar town in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra.

Ms. Khadse arrived with her daughter and her friends at the Muktainagar police station on Sunday morning (March 2, 2025) to lodge a complaint and demanded immediate arrest of the men involved in the harassment.  

Speaking to reporters after lodging the complaint, Ms. Khadse said the incident happened two days ago when her daughter along with her friends had gone to participate in the yatra.

“Every year, Sant Muktai Yatra takes place in our area on Mahashivratri. When my daughter along with her friends went to the the yatra two days ago, some men harassed her. I came to the police station to lodge a complaint against them.”  

She also questioned the police officials on the safety concern of girls and women. “If such incidents can happen even under high security, what is the fate of ordinary girls in the State?” she asked.  

During the religious event, Ms. Khadse’s daughter and her friends were distributing refreshments to the devotees gathered. It is when they noticed a man stalking them. Later in the evening, when the Minister’s daughter went out with her friends at the event and boarded an amusement ride, they noticed the same man along with other men, following and filming their activities.

The matter escalated when the Minister’s security personnel confiscated the mobile phone of one of the men to check its contents and this intervention turned into physical confrontation. 

Speaking to journalists, former Minister Eknath Khadse, Raksha’s father-in-law, said the police have already received several complaints against these men in the past who are hardened criminals.

Raising concerns over the safety of girls and women in the State, he said, “It is a matter of concern to see the rising cases of crime against women in Maharashtra. It is because the criminals have zero fear. Usually, girls do not come forward to lodge complaints as their parents feel it will attract shame to their daughters if their names are disclosed. But I asked my granddaughter to lodge a complaint and not fear anyone. We are left with no choice but to complaint about these men.”  

Mr. Khadse said he has also spoken to the Deputy Superintendent of Police and Inspector General of Police. “When we went to the police station, we were made to sit for two hours and the police officials asked us to rethink our decision of lodging complaints as it concerns girls. These are the same men who have beaten up the police as they have political protection. It is unfortunate that no action is being taken against them even after two days of the incident.”

Police officials said they are currently investigating the matter.