Nashik, Apr 29 (PTI) A Nashik court on Wednesday remanded self-styled astrologer-cum-godman Ashok Kharat in judicial custody till May 12 in the seventh case of sexual exploitation registered against him.
Kharat allegedly sexually exploited several women and indulged in large-scale financial fraud by claiming to have divine powers and knowledge of black magic.
In the seventh case, he is accused of sexually exploiting a married woman who had approached him in search of solutions to her family problems.
The accused allegedly gave the woman something to drink, sexually assaulted her while her husband sat outside his office and threatened to kill her if she told anyone about it.
On Monday, the court sent Kharat into the custody of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) till Wednesday in this case.
He was produced in the court on Wednesday at the end of his police custody.
Due to security reasons, the court proceeding were held through video conferencing.
During the hearing, the police demanded judicial custody for Kharat. Later, the court remanded him in judicial custody till May 12.
Kharat has been at the centre of a political firestorm, as he was well-connected. His photographs with political leaders and other important members of society have been surfacing since his arrest on March 18 after a woman alleged that he had repeatedly raped her for three years.
The SIT is conducting a probe into 12 cases of sexual exploitation and financial fraud registered against him in Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts. PTI COR GK
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