Self-styled godman Ashok Kharat has been arrested by Shirdi police in connection with a cheating case involving allegations of defrauding a farmer of Rs 5 crore, adding to existing investigations into sexual exploitation and money laundering.
The Shirdi police on Monday took custody of self-styled godman Ashok Kharat as part of its probe into a cheating case, an official said.
The case was registered on the complaint of farmer Raosaheb Nanasaheb Gondkar (55), a resident of Pimpalwadi in Shirdi in Ahilyanagar district, under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Maharashtra Money-Lending (Regulation) Act, he added.
Gondkar has accused Kharat and his wife Kalpana Kharat, and three others of cheating him from August 2023 of Rs 5 crore, the official said.
"Shirdi police took custody of Kharat. He will be produced in Rahata court in Ahilyanagar tomorrow in this case, which is the ninth against Kharat," the official informed.
Kharat was arrested in March for allegedly sexually exploiting several women. Since then, the probe has expanded to cover his alleged financial irregularities through transactions linked to multiple bank accounts and land dealings.
Apart from the SIT, he is also being probed by the Enforcement Directorate for alleged money-laundering.