Maharashtra: Two arrested, six booked for circulating obscene videos related to Ashok Kharat case

During the investigation, authorities uncovered several videos showing the exploitation of women.

Officials said that some of these clips were later found circulating on platforms such as WhatsApp, prompting immediate action by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), as per the PTI.

According to police, a resident of Kopargaon allegedly shared one such video on a WhatsApp group, which was then forwarded to others. Based on this, the police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology (IT) Act.

Two accused have been arrested, while efforts are underway to trace another individual involved in forwarding the content, police said.

Six booked in Nashik

Meanwhile, in a related development, six individuals have been booked in Nashik for circulating similar objectionable videos.

Police said efforts are ongoing to apprehend them.

Ahilyanagar Superintendent of Police Somnath Ghughe warned that anyone sharing such content, including social media group administrators, would face strict legal action.

Appeal from SIT

IPS officer Tejaswi Satpute, who is leading the SIT probe, has urged the public, media, and social media users not to share or publish any videos of the victims.

The SIT is currently investigating at least six cases linked to Kharat, including allegations of rape, human sacrifice, and black magic.

Woman files complaint against self-proclaimed godman, alleges rape

Meanwhile, in an another incident, the recent arrest of Ashok Kharat reportedly gave courage to a woman to file a complaint against a self-styled godman in Maharashtra's Palghar district, reported the PTI.

She alleged that the self-proclaimed godman had allegedly raped her.

He has been booked for allegedly raping the 35-year-old woman after posing as an incarnation of a deity, police said on Friday, as per PTI.

The woman gathered the courage to file a complaint following the recent arrest of former Merchant Navy officer and self-styled godman Ashok Kharat in Nashik, an official said, according to the PTI.

The police said that the woman first came into contact with the accused through Facebook in 2023. In December that year, he visited the woman in Pune and allegedly deceived her by claiming he was an incarnation of Mahadev and that she was his “Parvati,” as per the FIR.

As per the news agency, the complainant alleged that the accused took her to a lodge in Pune’s Manjari area, where he administered a numbing substance before raping her. He also allegedly took photographs of her without her knowledge during the assault.

Blackmailed using pictures

Police said the accused later used these photographs to blackmail the woman. In May last year, he allegedly called her to a hotel in Vasai and attempted to sexually assault her again.

Senior Inspector Hiralal Jadhav of Manikpur police station said the woman decided to come forward after the Nashik “Captain” Kharat case gave her the courage to speak out, PTI reported. 

Since the primary offence took place in Pune, the Manikpur police registered a Zero FIR on Wednesday and transferred the case to the Hadapsar police station for further investigation.

A zero FIR allows a complaint to be filed at any police station, irrespective of jurisdiction, and is later transferred to the appropriate authority.

The woman has also alleged that the accused lured and sexually exploited several other women using a similar modus operandi. Police said efforts are underway to apprehend the accused.

(with PTI inputs) 

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