A Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a woman IPS officer, Tejaswini Satpute, was appointed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday to investigate godman “Captain” Ashok Kharat’s alleged serial rape, sexual exploitation and blackmail case.
As per the the decision taken by the state Home Department headed by CM Fadnavis, the SIT will now jointly investigate the three separate cases registered against Ashok Kharat, since the issue has become a political hot potato.
Meanwhile, photographs of Ashok Kharat with Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, as well as Maharashtra State Commission for Women Chairperson Rupali Chakankar, who happens to be an Ajit Pawar-led NCP leader, have gone viral on social media. In one such video, Rupali Chakankar is seen washing Ashok Kharat’s feet and showing reverence, while in another video, she refers to him as her “guru”. Names of many other big political fish are being spoken about in whispers in political circles.
Maharashtra Police Headquarters has taken serious note of the matter and ordered a high-level investigation. A case of sexual abuse and rape of a 35-year-old woman has been registered against Ashok Kharat at Sarkarwada police station in Nashik city. A case has been registered at Vavi police station in Nashik rural for demanding a ransom of Rs 5 crore after threatening to make an obscene video go viral. Besides this, a case has been registered at Shirdi police station in Ahilyanagar district for making obscene photos of a victim go viral.
A case has been registered against arrested self proclaimed Nashik-based godman “Captain” Ashok Kharat, who used to predict the future of big political leaders, for allegedly blackmailing a victim and demanding a ransom of Rs 5 crore by threatening to make an obscene video go viral.
Since serious sections have been applied in all these three crimes, the state police headquarters decided to constitute an SIT. Orders have been given to immediately transfer all relevant documents, case diaries and available evidence to the SIT. Instructions have also been given to submit regular reports on the progress of the investigation to the Maharashtra police headquarters.
The SIT led by Tejaswini Satpute, who has been appointed as the head of the SIT, has been ordered to conduct a thorough investigation into the 58 videos in the pen drive seized from Ashok Kharat, besides other possible female victims, as well as transactions related to the Ashok Kharat-controlled Shri Shivnika Sansthan Trust and all other political-religious links.
The decision has increased the possibility of major revelations in the “Captain” Ashok Kharat case soon. Ashok Kharat, who is the chairman of the Shri Ishanyeshwar Temple Trust in Mirgaon, Sinnar taluka, is a retired officer from the Merchant Navy. He was known as a numerologist and cosmology expert. Currently, “Captain” Ashok Kharat has been remanded in police custody till March 24.
The police said that they have recovered 58 videos involving women. Kharat is reportedly known to have links with several politicians, industrialists and celebrities, many of whom allegedly sought his advice on various matters.
A team of Nashik Crime Branch Unit 1 raided Kharat’s farmhouse in Mirgaon, who was arrested in a rape case. The police have seized a cache of weapons and important documents in this raid.
During the search of his farm house in Mirgaon, the police found a pistol and some live cartridges, which have been seized. The police are investigating the purpose behind the pistol and cartridges seized from the house.
According to police sources, Ashok Kharat accumulated assets worth at least Rs 200 crores of rupees during the last few years. He owns a luxurious bungalow and office in Nashik city, besides about 30 acres of land in the Pathardi area.
Investigations so far have revealed that Kharat also owns a large land in Sinnar, Ozar airport area and Shirdi.