Nashik Court Grants Police Custody to Self-Styled Godman in Fourth Rape Allegation
A Nashik court on Tuesday remanded self-styled godman Ashok Kharat to police custody until April 18 in a fourth rape case against him. The case involves allegations that Kharat sexually exploited a woman who had approached him seeking solutions to her family problems, with authorities claiming he administered sedatives to the victim.
Special Investigation Team Secures Custody for Further Probe
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing multiple cases against the former merchant navy officer, filed an application on Monday seeking Kharat's custody in this fourth instance. After the court granted permission, the SIT took Kharat into custody and produced him before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate A G Behere on Tuesday.
During proceedings held via video conferencing, public prosecutor Shailendra Bagde argued that further investigation was necessary. He alleged that the accused had given sedatives to the victim, who was vulnerable while seeking help for family issues, and then sexually exploited her.
Defense Arguments and Court's Decision
Kharat's lawyer, Satish Bhate, countered that the accused had already been in police custody for a considerable period and that since the SIT had conducted the investigation, further police remand was unwarranted. However, the court, considering the sensitive nature of the case, granted five-day police custody to Kharat until April 18.
Ashok Kharat is currently facing nearly a dozen cases, with eight of them related to sexual assault. This latest development underscores the ongoing legal challenges for the self-proclaimed spiritual figure, as authorities continue to investigate multiple allegations of misconduct.
