Nashik: Astrologer Ashok Kharat, who has been arrested in multiple cases involving sexual assault, black magic practices, and extortion, was remanded in judicial custody until May 16 by a magisterial court in the city on Monday. This decision came after the completion of his police custody in nine cases that are being investigated by the special investigation team (SIT).
SIT Custody and Court Proceedings
Kharat had been in SIT custody since March 16. In total, 12 cases have been registered against him at the Sarkarwada police station, with nine of these cases falling under the purview of the SIT investigation. Public prosecutor Kiran Bendbhar stated, "SIT officials produced Kharat in a magisterial court via video conferencing. He was subsequently remanded in judicial custody until May 16."
Bendbhar further added, "Kharat will be transferred in a separate case of cheating and illegal money lending registered with the Shirdi police. The police will detain him and present him in the Rahata court to seek custody."
Additional Cases and Investigations
Senior officers in Ahilyanagar have confirmed that the investigation into the Shirdi case will be conducted locally. They also noted that the Ahilyanagar police may take Kharat into custody in connection with another cheating case registered at the Rahata police station, before the Nashik City and Nashik Rural police seek his custody for other pending cases. The SIT, which was constituted by the state government, is currently investigating the nine cases registered at the Sarkarwada police station, along with two other cases lodged with the Shirdi and Wavi (Nashik Rural) police stations, in which Kharat is not an accused.
In the Shirdi case, Kharat and four others, including his wife Kalpana, are accused of allegedly cheating a farmer and grabbing about four acres of land near Shirdi. Kalpana's whereabouts remain unknown. The police have stated that efforts to trace her are ongoing, and her plea for anticipatory bail was recently rejected by the court.
