In recent events, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on the self-proclaimed godman Ashok Kharat detained his son in Nashik for questioning. They have also launched a search for his wife, Kalpana, who is currently unreachable, according to a PTI report. Currently in jail, Ashok will be produced before a local court after his remand ends on Wednesday, April 1. Read to know more about the case here.
About Ashok Kharat Case
Officials revealed that the SIT had searched Ashok Kharat’s residence in Karmayogi Nagar and detained his son, Harshvardhan, and later took him to the Maharashtra Police Academy for questioning. This came after his case widened, with police reporting more than 100 complaints and about 10 FIRs against him. This also included multiple cases of s*xual assault and cheating. And in a major development, the Shirdi police in Ahilyanagar district have lodged a new case of cheating, criminal breach of trust and illegal money lending against him, his wife, and three others for allegedly usurping a four-acre land in Nighoj valued at around 10 crores.
This came after a complaint by Raosaheb Gondkar, a resident of Rahata. As per the police, Gondkar went to Ashok Kharat in August 2023 seeking a loan of Rs 5.52 crores to clear existing debts. And as per the agreement, he should have executed a sale deed of his land as security with a memorandum of understanding and an agreement to sell. This allowed him to repurchase the property for Rs 6.07 crore in August 2024. The complainant alleged that he first paid Rs 51 lakh as an advance for the repurchase and was forced to refund the balance with 2% interest.
Also Read: Ashok Kharat Case: SIT Alleges Involvement Of Doctors, Politicians. Here’s What We Know
However, he said that in the following months, he was pressed to make additional payments of Rs 90 lakh, Rs 25 lakh, and Rs 50 lakh through middlemen associated with Kharat. According to investigators, when Gondkar attempted to settle the remaining debts and retrieve his land, Kharat allegedly stopped answering the phone and closed his Nashik office.