The Shirdi Police in Maharashtra on Monday took custody of self-styled godman Ashok Kharat as part of its investigation into a cheating case, reported the PTI.
The case was registered following a complaint by farmer Raosaheb Nanasaheb Gondkar (55), a resident of Pimpalwadi in Shirdi, Ahilyanagar district.
Gondkar has alleged that Kharat, along with his wife Kalpana Kharat and three others, cheated him of Rs 5 crore since August 2023.
Police said the case has been filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Money-Lending (Regulation) Act.
Kharat is expected to be produced before a court in Rahata in connection with the case.
Ninth case against Kharat
Officials confirmed that this is the ninth case registered against Kharat, indicating multiple allegations against him.
Kharat was arrested in March over allegations of sexually exploiting several women.
Since then, the investigation has widened to include suspected financial irregularities, including transactions through multiple bank accounts and land dealings.
Apart from a Special Investigation Team (SIT), the Enforcement Directorate is also probing the case for alleged money laundering.
Another cheating case
Last week, Kharat was arrested in connection with an another case.
According to the complaint, a Pune businessman alleged that he spent large sums of money on Kharat, including sponsoring his foreign trips to Myanmar, Greenland and the United States, the news agency reported.
He also claimed to have gifted him a Mercedes car and provided Rs 2.5 crore for the construction of a farmhouse at Kharat’s demand.
The FIR registered at Sarkarwada police station in Nashik states that the accused allegedly took around Rs 5 crore along with a luxury car worth Rs 90 lakh.
Kharat, who is believed to have political connections, was first arrested on March 18 after a woman accused him of repeatedly raping her over three years.
He is alleged to have sexually exploited multiple women by claiming divine powers and knowledge of black magic, while also engaging in large-scale financial fraud, reported PTI.
Investigators say they were examining a wider pattern of financial and criminal offences linked to him, reported the PTI.
The SIT is continuing its probe into all related cases and is expected to question the accused further during the custody period.
(with PTI inputs)