26 May,2026 02:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
ED filed a case against Ashok Kharat under PMLA on April 6 after taking cognisance of a Nashik Police FIR accusing him of extortion, religious manipulation, and drug-facilitated assault on multiple women. FILE PIC
A special PMLA court in Mumbai on Tuesday remanded self-styled godman Ashok Kharat to 14-day judicial custody in a money laundering case.
Kharat, who is already facing rape and fraud charges, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last week under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
He was produced before the special court on Tuesday after the expiry of his earlier remand.
ED informed the court that Kharat's further custody was not required at present, but said it may seek his custody again in future if needed, news agency PTI reported. The court subsequently remanded him in judicial custody.
The Central probe agency has alleged that Kharat was the mastermind and primary beneficiary of more than Rs 47 crore in laundered money under investigation.
ED registered a case against Kharat under PMLA on April 6 after taking cognisance of a Nashik Police first information report (FIR) accusing him of extortion, religious manipulation, and drug-facilitated assault on multiple women.
According to ED, Kharat operated a large extortion racket and laundered money through a network of âbenami' bank accounts.
These are accounts held in one person's name while the money is legally owned or provided by another person.
The agency alleged that Kharat secretly opened 60 bank accounts at the Samata Nagari Cooperative Credit Society in Rahata, Ahilyanagar district, using documents belonging to devotees without their consent.
ED claimed that 43 of these accounts were opened on a single day in May 2021. It further alleged that more than Rs 47.74 crore in cash transactions was systematically rotated through these 60 accounts between 2021 and 2026.
As per the probe agency, Kharat generated proceeds of crime through systematic extortion and religious manipulation before layering the funds through a sophisticated network of benami bank accounts, cooperative credit societies and family members' accounts.
The ED also alleged that Kharat used the proceeds of crime to acquire immovable properties in his name and in the names of family members, including through cash payments, in an attempt to integrate the laundered funds into legitimate-looking assets.
Meanwhile, a special investigation team (SIT) is probing 12 cases of alleged sexual exploitation and financial fraud registered against Kharat in Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts.
(With PTI and IANS inputs)
