A court in Maharashtra’s Nashik district on Saturday sent self-styled godman Ashok Kharat to judicial custody till April 30 in connection with a fourth case of alleged sexual assault and exploitation of a woman, reported PTI.
Kharat is already under investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing multiple cases of sexual assault and financial fraud against him.
Custody handed over to jail authorities
Earlier, Kharat was in SIT custody in this case till April 18. After his custody period ended, he was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) B N Ichpurani.
Due to security concerns, the court proceedings were conducted through video conferencing and Kharat was not physically present in the courtroom. A brief technical issue also delayed the hearing. Following the prosecution’s request, the court ordered judicial custody and directed that he be sent to Nashik Road Central Jail, as per PTI reports.
Multiple cases under investigation
The SIT is expected to produce Kharat again in court on Sunday, seeking police custody in yet another case of alleged sexual assault.
According to officials, Kharat is facing at least 12 criminal cases across Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts. These include around eight cases related to sexual assault allegations, reported the news agency, according to the PTI.
What is this case about?
Kharat was arrested on March 17 after a 35-year-old woman filed a rape complaint against him at Sarkarwada police station in Nashik.
The investigation into all cases against him is currently ongoing including multiple cases of sexual assault, extortion, fraud involving the use of props for intimidation and financial irregularities linked to land, opening of accounts in some cooperative credit societies and other properties, as per the PTI.
Following his arrest in March 2026, a Special Investigation Team and the Enforcement Directorate are probing his estimated Rs 90-100 crore asset empire amid allegations of high-profile political connections.
He is the head of a temple trust in Sinnar and has been associated with several political leaders over the years. Following his arrest, photographs of him with prominent politicians circulated widely, sparking political controversy in Maharashtra.
(With PTI Inputs)