MUMBAI: Nasik court on Wednesday remanded self-styled godman and alleged fraud astrologer Ashok Kharat to 14 days’ judicial custody in connection with cases of sexually exploiting women.
Ashok Kharat was arrested by Nasik police for sexually exploiting more than 150 women on the pretext of improving their lives and resolving their personal and professional problems through black magic. Earlier, the court had granted police custody till April 1, 2026.
The Maharashtra government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by IPS officer Tejaswi Satpute.
During the SIT probe, it was also revealed that Ashok Kharat made many vegetarian followers consume fish by disguising it as wild water plants, claiming it would cure mental health issues. Kharat allegedly misled several followers into consuming non-vegetarian food like fish as medicine.
Ashok Kharat’s wife has been absconding, while police have arrested his son and initiated a probe against his daughter as well.
Multiple prime properties are reportedly in the name of Kharat’s wife and children. Police have carried out a joint probe into the Kharat family members, and all of them will be interrogated and confronted with each other to verify several details.
Sources said that police have successfully retrieved data from Kharat’s four mobile phones, but names of VIP individuals are saved under different names and code names, making it difficult to establish their identities.
In the SIT probe, it was revealed that Ashok Kharat allegedly not only sexually exploited women followers but also forced them to sleep with VIP individuals such as politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats by administering spiked drinks.
“Kharat used to blackmail many politicians and high-profile people by demanding hefty amounts and SUVs as well. If his demands were not met, he threatened to expose them by releasing videos of these VIPs. Kharat also sought help from many bureaucrats to change government rules and decisions. There are more than 35 MLAs and ministers who were regular visitors to Kharat Darbar and sought his advice for key decisions,” revealed in the probe.
