Never met Kharat or sought guidance on ministerial berth: Gorhe

Pune: Senior member of Shiv Sena Neelam Gorhe on Monday refutedallegations that she had approached astrologerAshok Kharat to seek guidance and find out whether she would get a ministerial berth.During a press conference in Pune early on Monday, social activist Trupti Desai said Gorhe was among the followers of Kharat, who has been arrested by the Nashik police on charges of raping a woman. The state govt has formed an SIT to investigate the case after several FIRs were registered against the astrologer following his arrest.Desai said, "Gorhe has been among Kharat's followers for the last six to seven years. She had even met the astrologer to find out if she would get a ministerial berth. Also, she had met Kharat at a hotelin Nashik before the Covid-19 pandemic." The activist said one of the people who had accompanied Gorhe to meet Kharat had sharedthe information.Meanwhile, Gorhe told reporters in Pune on Monday that she does not follow any astrologer or godman. "I have visited Nashik multiple times, but never met Kharat. Desai's allegations are completely baseless," she said."Such allegations are part of a political vendetta by a few people who did not taste success in their political careers and are targeting me now. However, I will continue to focus on my work," Gorhe added.