12 May,2026 11:17 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
The accused has been taken into police custody, an official said. Representational Pic/File
A 78-year-old self-styled godman was on Tuesday arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said, reported the PTI.
The girl was allegedly raped on the pretext of performing rituals to ward off "evil spirits" from her house, officials said.
The accused identified as Shahid Mohammad Wahid Shaikh, a resident of Ambernath, was arrested on Monday in connection with the assault, which took place last week.
According to the police, the survivor had been living with her mother in Kalyan town, following the deaths of her father and grandmother a few months ago, and the suspect, who was acquainted with the mother, allegedly convinced them that an evil spirit was haunting their house, as per the PTI.
"Under the pretext of performing rituals to cleanse their house, the accused gained entry into their residence. On May 2 and May 6, taking advantage of the mother's absence, the accused allegedly molested and raped the teen," an official said, as per the PTI.
The accused has been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, he said, the news agency reported.
He was apprehended and produced before a local court, which remanded him to police custody till May 13, he said, adding that further probe is underway.
Meanwhile, last week, the Shirdi Police in Maharashtra on Monday took custody of self-styled godman Ashok Kharat as part of its investigation into a cheating case, reported the PTI.
The case was registered following a complaint by farmer Raosaheb Nanasaheb Gondkar (55), a resident of Pimpalwadi in Shirdi, Ahilyanagar district.
Gondkar has alleged that Kharat, along with his wife Kalpana Kharat and three others, cheated him of Rs 5 crore since August 2023.
Police said the case has been filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Money-Lending (Regulation) Act.
Officials confirmed that this is the ninth case registered against Kharat, indicating multiple allegations against him.
Kharat was arrested in March over allegations of sexually exploiting several women.
Since then, the investigation has widened to include suspected financial irregularities, including transactions through multiple bank accounts and land dealings.
Apart from a Special Investigation Team (SIT), the Enforcement Directorate is also probing the case for alleged money laundering.
(with PTI and IANS inputs)
