30 April,2026 05:21 PM IST | Nashik | mid-day online correspondent
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Police took custody of self-proclaimed godman-cum-astrologer Ashok Kharat in an eighth case of alleged sexual exploitation and produced him before a Nashik district court, which rejected the plea for police remand and sent him to judicial custody till May 12 on Thursday, reported PTI.
On April 29, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Nashik police filed an application seeking Kharat's custody in the eighth case.
After obtaining permission, the SIT took him into custody from jail, where he was lodged in connection with the seventh case.
Kharat, named in multiple FIRs related to rape and financial fraud, was produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate B N Ichpurani through video conferencing due to security concerns, reported PTI.
The eighth case pertains to allegations that Kharat sexually exploited a woman who had approached him for solutions to her family problems, according to police, reported PTI.
During the hearing, the prosecution sought police custody, but the defence opposed the plea, arguing that similar grounds were being cited repeatedly without fresh justification, reported PTI.
The court accepted the defence's argument and remanded Kharat to judicial custody till May 12.
The SIT is set to produce Kharat before the court again on Friday to seek police custody in a ninth case.
As he is now in judicial custody in the eighth case, he will be lodged at Nashik Road Central Jail, from where the SIT will seek custody, reported PTI.
Meanwhile, Kharat's judicial custody in the fourth case ended on Thursday. He had been remanded till April 30 in that case on April 18.
In a related development, the SIT conducted a search at Kharat's office in the Canada Corner area of Nashik city on Wednesday. A panchnama was carried out, and the premises were sealed again, reported PTI.
Kharat, who is believed to have political connections, was first arrested on March 18 after a woman accused him of repeatedly raping her over three years.
He is alleged to have sexually exploited multiple women by claiming divine powers and knowledge of black magic, while also engaging in large-scale financial fraud, reported PTI.
The SIT is currently investigating 12 cases of sexual exploitation and financial fraud registered against him in Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts.
(With inputs from PTI)
