In a recent turn of events, in a statement to the Maharashtra Assembly, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has confirmed that three women have agreed to file complaints with a total of six cases against the self-styled godman, Ashok Kharat. All these cases will be registered for the alleged s*xual assault and exploitation of women. Till now, eight FIRs have been lodged, and all pictures and videos related to the same have been removed from social media.
About Ashok Kharat
CM Fadnavis has confirmed that Ashok Kharat used to spike the drinks offered to women devotees, and between February 2020 and 18 March, he allegedly called a woman to his office multiple times. During this time, he made her have ‘enchanted water,’ and s*xually assaulted her in the name of religious rituals. PTI quoted, “She became pregnant, and Kharat later gave her pills for an abortion. He also threatened her.” CM also stated that he posed as a religious figure to take advantage of women and threatened those who he thought would speak out.
Fadnavis also informed the Assembly that a lookout circular will be sent against him on March 10 to prevent him from leaving the country. Also, a Special Investigation Team was put together to probe the cases against him. The woman filed a complaint at the Sarkarwada police station in Nashik on March 17, claiming that she was called into his office at the ‘Canada Corner’ building, was given water, and later threatened with her husband’s life before r*ping her multiple times, the CM said.
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The media has been instructed to protect the complainants’ identity, and authorities have discovered up to 35 videos of eight women on a mobile handset owned by one of Kharat’s employees.