The Maharashtra government has suspended Deputy Collector Abhijeet Bhande Patil due to alleged financial dealings with Ashok Kharat, a controversial figure. The suspension was ordered by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule following findings from investigators who accessed call records indicating repeated communication between Bhande Patil and Kharat. Complaints of serious misconduct, including cheating and exploitation, prompted the action. The government noted that Bhande Patil's conduct was unbecoming of a government servant and adversely affected the administration's image. He will face a departmental inquiry under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1979. During the suspension, his headquarters has been attached to the office of the Konkan Divisional Commissioner, and he is barred from leaving without permission or engaging in private employment. This development is seen as a significant escalation in the ongoing investigation into Ashok Kharat, suggesting that the inquiry's scope may widen further.