A court in Maharashtra’s Nashik on Monday remanded self-styled godman Ashok Kharat to seven-day judicial custody until April 20 in connection with a third rape case, where he is accused of sexually exploiting a pregnant woman, reported news agency PTI.
SIT seeks custody after police remand ends
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) produced Kharat before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate B. N. Ichpurani through a virtual hearing, as his police custody in the case concluded earlier in the day. After reviewing the remand report submitted by the SIT, the court granted the request for judicial custody, reported PTI.
Kharat, a former merchant navy officer who later gained notoriety as a self-styled spiritual figure, was first arrested in mid-March following multiple complaints of sexual misconduct.
Allegations involving pregnant woman surface
According to investigators, the latest case involves the alleged sexual exploitation of a seven-month pregnant woman, who is the wife of one of Kharat’s office staff members. The complaint filed by the victim’s husband states that the accused assaulted the woman multiple times over a span of more than two years, reported PTI.
The alleged incidents reportedly took place between November 2023 and December 2025, including at Kharat’s office premises in Nashik. Authorities also stated that the accused conducted a ritual involving the woman at a temple located in Mirgaon village in Sinnar taluka.
Husband’s suspicion leads to key evidence
The case took a crucial turn when the victim’s husband, who initially did not believe his wife’s allegations, began to suspect wrongdoing after hearing similar complaints from other women. In an attempt to verify the claims, he secretly installed a spy camera in Kharat’s office, reported PTI.
The footage allegedly captured objectionable acts, which were later handed over to the police in the form of a pen drive. Investigators have described the digital evidence as significant in strengthening the case against the accused, reported PTI.
Multiple cases filed against accused
Kharat is currently facing nearly a dozen criminal cases, of which at least eight are related to sexual assault allegations. The SIT has been actively consolidating evidence across multiple complaints to build a comprehensive case against him.
SIT moves for custody in another case
Meanwhile, the SIT has also approached the court seeking custody of Kharat in yet another case. The court has granted the necessary permission, and officials are expected to take him into custody from Nashik Road Central Jail.
Kharat is scheduled to be produced before the court again on Tuesday in connection with a fourth case, as investigations continue to unfold.
(With inputs from PTI)
