The Enforcement Directorate on Monday, April 13, conducted searches across Maharashtra as part of a money laundering investigation against self-styled godman Ashok Kharat and his linked entities, officials said.
As reported by news agency PTI, five premises in Kharat`s hometown, Nashik, and three each in Pune and Shirdi have been raided by the enforcement agency.
As per the officials, residential and commercial premises linked to Kharat, his chartered accountant (CA) Prakash Pophale, Kharat`s relatives and some branches of cooperative credit societies are being covered, reported PTI.
The ED earlier had filed a criminal case against Kharat under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on April 6, taking cognisance of a Nashik Police FIR filed against the controversial man on charges of extortion, religious manipulation, drug-facilitated assault, exploiting women and other such charges.
Ashok Kharat had multiple bank accounts
ED officials further said that Kharat opened multiple bank accounts with two cooperative credit societies based out of Nashik district in the name of third parties.
The officials further said that the self-styled godman was named as the nominee in these bank accounts and had linked his mobile number to exercise control over the operations of these accounts.
The preliminary probe also shows that he sold common items as “blessed items” by claiming they possessed divine healing powers. The money so collected from the victims and through the “extortion” operations has been invested in various lands through his CA, the officials from ED further added.
Eight FIRs registered against Ashok Kharat
Asholk Kharat was arrested by the Nashik Police earlier in March after a married woman accused him of raping her repeatedly over three years. However, a total of eight FIRs have been registered against Kharat across Maharashtra.
Furthermore, a subsequent probe by the police uncovered a host of crimes, including sexual assault and financial irregularities linked to land, opening of accounts in some cooperative credit societies, and other properties.
CM Fadnavis had earlier ordered a probe into Ashok Kharat case
Earlier this month, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had also said the CDR leak in the Ashok Kharat case would be probed. The CM further stated that the arrested self-styled godman`s assets will be investigated by the Enforcement Directorate.
No one has the right to obtain such call data records, Fadnavis said amid a furore after social activist Anjali Damania on Friday made revelations about calls between Kharat and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Damania further claimed that she received Kharat`s CDR (Call Detail Records) on WhatsApp from an unknown number.
(With inputs from PTI)
