Nashik court sends Ashok Kharat to seven-day police custody in second rape case

A court in Maharashtrarsquos Nashik district on Thursday remanded selfstyled godman Ashok Kharat to sevenday police custody in a second rape case where he is accused of repeatedly sexually exploiting a woman since 2020 under the guise of religious ritualsKharat 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 PTIThe accused a former merchant navy officer was already in 14day judicial custody in the first rape case and lodged at Nashik Road Central Jail from where he was taken into SIT custodyCase registered under BNS and antiblack magic lawKharat was initially arrested on March 17 after a 35yearold 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 2013According to the complaint in the second case the woman had been in contact with Kharat since 2013 when she first met him on a relativersquos 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 PTIThe 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 herHe 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 pregnancyAlleged exploitation began in February 2020The 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 PTIDue to security concerns Thursdayrsquos court proceedings were conducted via video conferencing and Kharat was not produced in personDuring 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 commentTen FIRs registered against Kharat so farSo 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 phoneMeanwhile 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 thenOn Wednesday the SIT detained Kharatrsquos son Harshvardhan for questioning from their residence in Karmayogi Nagar Nashik He was later released reported PTIKharat 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 evidenceNotably a 20foot remotecontrolled mechanised snake was also seized from his office Investigators said Kharat allegedly used it to convince followers that he possessed supernatural powersWith PTI inputs