02 April,2026 05:40 PM IST | Nashik | mid-day online correspondent
Self-styled godman Ashok Kharat. File Pic
A court in Maharashtra's Nashik district on Thursday remanded self-styled godman Ashok Kharat to seven-day police custody in a second rape case, where he is accused of repeatedly sexually exploiting a woman since 2020 under the guise of religious rituals.
Kharat, who was arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Wednesday in connection with the second case, was produced via video conferencing from jail before Chief Judicial Magistrate B N Ichpurani, who remanded him to SIT custody till April 8, report PTI.
The accused, a former merchant navy officer, was already in 14-day judicial custody in the first rape case and lodged at Nashik Road Central Jail, from where he was taken into SIT custody.
Kharat was initially arrested on March 17 after a 35-year-old woman filed a rape complaint against him at the Sarkarwada police station in Nashik. A case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.
According to the complaint in the second case, the woman had been in contact with Kharat since 2013, when she first met him on a relative's advice to help fix her marriage. Even after her marriage, Kharat allegedly remained in touch under the pretext of resolving family issues and sexually exploited her, as cited by PTI.
The woman, who has two children, later separated from her husband due to marital differences. When she approached Kharat again regarding her future and remarriage, he allegedly continued to exploit her.
He is accused of calling her to his office and raping her under the pretext of performing religious rituals. When she became pregnant, he allegedly gave her pills and forced her to terminate the pregnancy.
The complaint states that Kharat exploited the woman from February 2020 and threatened to harm her and her children if she resisted. After the first rape case against him came to light, the woman gathered the courage to file a complaint on March 21, reported PTI.
Due to security concerns, Thursday's court proceedings were conducted via video conferencing, and Kharat was not produced in person.
During the hearing, public prosecutor Shailendra Bagde, representing the SIT, argued that the accused was not cooperating with the investigation and sought his custody. Defence lawyer Sachin Bhate opposed the plea, but the court overruled him and granted SIT custody. When asked by the judge if he had anything to say, Kharat declined to comment.
So far, at least 10 FIRs, eight related to alleged sexual assault or exploitation and two for cheating, have been registered against Kharat. The SIT has also received more than 100 complaints against him over the phone.
Meanwhile, a cheating case linked to a land deal was registered at Shirdi police station in Ahilyanagar district against Kharat and his wife earlier this week. His wife has been absconding since then.
On Wednesday, the SIT detained Kharat's son, Harshvardhan, for questioning from their residence in Karmayogi Nagar, Nashik. He was later released, reported PTI.
Kharat, who heads a temple trust in Sinnar, Nashik district, had reportedly interacted with several political leaders over the years. Last week, the SIT, along with a forensic team, searched his office and recovered documents, files, and other evidence.
Notably, a 20-foot remote-controlled mechanised snake was also seized from his office. Investigators said Kharat allegedly used it to convince followers that he possessed supernatural powers.
(With PTI inputs)
