Nashik 'Godman' drugged, raped woman for 3 years under religious guise, arrested

A self-proclaimed numerologist and ‘godman’, Ashok Kharat, has been arrested by the Nashik Crime Branch for allegedly raping a woman and exploiting multiple others under the guise of religious practices. The police have recovered 58 obscene video clips from a pen drive seized during a raid at his office.

According to police, he allegedly gained the trust of women through rituals and occult practices, claiming to possess divine powers. Investigators said he manipulated a 35-year-old married woman, drugged and threatened her, and repeatedly sexually assaulted her for three years.

The survivor approached the police station after enduring the abuse for nearly three years, leading to the immediate registration of an FIR and subsequent action.

The Nashik Crime Branch arrested Kharat in the early hours of Wednesday. He was later produced before a court, which remanded him to police custody till March 24. Officials said the pen drive recovered from his office is currently undergoing forensic examination, with suspicions that more victims, including some high-profile individuals, may be involved.

The case has also taken a political turn after photographs surfaced showing Kharat with several prominent political leaders, including Amit Shah, Eknath Shinde and Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. Maharashtra State Women’s Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar acknowledged that she had known Kharat since 2019 but stated she was unaware of the alleged crimes.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare has raised questions over Chakankar’s association with Kharat and expressed concerns over the continued support extended to him despite the allegations.

Kharat, a resident of Sinnar taluka, also serves as the president of the Shri Ishaneshwar Temple Trust in Mirgaon. A former Merchant Navy employee, he later gained prominence as a numerologist, attracting politicians, businessmen and celebrities.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under IPS officer Tejaswini Satpute to further probe the case and identify other potential victims.

- Ends