Self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, already facing serious rape allegations, is now being investigated for alleged financial fraud involving numerous accounts and crores of rupees in suspicious transactions across Maharashtra.
Key Points
- Ashok Kharat, a self-styled godman, is under investigation for opening over 130 accounts in cooperative credit societies.
- Transactions exceeding Rs 62.74 crore were carried out through these accounts in the last two years.
- Police are investigating a cheating case related to Kharat's alleged attempt to grab land in Shirdi.
- An Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into potential money laundering is likely.
- Multiple FIRs, including those for sexual assault and cheating, have been registered against Kharat.
Self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, facing rape charges, opened more than 130 accounts in two cooperative credit societies in Maharashtra under different names and carried out transactions exceeding Rs 62.74 crore in the last couple of years, a police official said on Thursday.
As per sources, one of the accounts was opened in the name of sister of former Maharashtra State Women's Commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar, who resigned from the post last month after her alleged links with Kharat came to light following his arrest on rape charges in Nashik.
These details emerged during a probe being conducted by police in Ahilyanagar district in a cheating case registered against Kharat, his wife Kalpana and three others. The case relates to the Kharat couple, residents of Nashik district, allegedly trying to grab four acres of land in the temple town of Shirdi after giving its owner a loan of Rs 5.52 crore.
The Shirdi police have arrested two middlemen in the case and were looking for Kalpana and one more person.
To prevent Kalpana from fleeing the country, police have issued a Lookout Notice (LOC) against her, said Somnath Gharge, Superintendent of Police (SP), Ahilyanagar.
Immigration officials at designated airports, seaports, and land borders have been alerted about the case, he said.
Financial Irregularities Uncovered
While investigating the cheating case registered at Shirdi, police found that Kharat had opened more than 130 accounts at two cooperative credit societies (financial entities providing loans, savings, and banking services) in the name of different people in Ahilyanagar district, Gharge informed.
All these accounts had recorded heavy transaction volume in the last couple of years. In one of the credit societies, there were transactions of over Rs 60 crore and in the other police have so far found transactions of more than Rs 2.74 crore, according to the SP.
Nominees of all the accounts was Kharat, a former merchant navy officer, and his mobile number was given as a contact for each of them, Gharge stated.
During investigation, it was revealed that Kharat, who also claimed to be an astrologer, was operating all these accounts and depositing money, which he received from people visiting him for consultation, another official said.
ED Likely to Investigate
In view of these revelations, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which probes money laundering cases, is likely to enter the inquiry scene, the second official said.
At least 10 FIRs -- eight for alleged sexual assault or exploitation of women and two for cheating -- have been registered against Kharat, who is being probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the state government.
The rape accused 'godman' is in the SIT custody till April 8.
