India, March 26 -- The state government had allocated over Rs.1 crore eight years ago to develop amenity spaces around Ishaneshwar temple in Nashik district eight years ago, managed by a trust headed by self-styled godman Ashok Kharat who was arrested recently recently after a woman filed an FIR against him alleging that she was raped by him. According to sources in the district administration, the funds were sanctioned through a government resolution (GR) issued on March 31, 2018, by the state tourism and cultural affairs department, under BJP minister Jaykumar Rawal. Rawal, currently marketing and protocol minister in the Devendra Fadnavis government, refused to comment on the matter. "The GR pertained to funds allocated for development works at various religious sites across 20 districts, including the Ishaneshwar temple. The projects were executed by the public works department," said a senior official. "There was no information about the alleged offences involving Kharat when the funds were sanctioned," said a source in the district administration. Authorities declined to comment on whether Kharat used his influence to secure the funds, though sources indicated he had close ties with several politicians across party lines. State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal alleged that if the government chose to conduct an impartial investigation into the case, "a dozen ministers and two dozen officials will end up in jail", referring to the grants sanctioned for the temple. He also alleged that a minister, who was close to Kharat, "had performed black magic to become chief minister". Pune-based RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar said: "This fund was used to construct several facilities around the temple. Notably, this temple has been described in official government language as a 'Siddha Kshetra' or a site of spiritual significance. Who in the government decided that this temple qualifies as a 'Siddha Kshetra'?"...