Fear, threats, fake rituals to exploit women: Inside Ashok Kharat's web of coercion
India Today
Police said he manipulated a 35-year-old married woman through rituals and claims of divine powers, drugged her with intoxicants, hypnotised her, and repeatedly assaulted her.
A self-proclaimed numerologist and godman, Ashok Kharat, also known as ‘Captain’ Kharat, was arrested on Thursday by the Nashik Crime Branch for allegedly raping a woman and exploiting others under the guise of religious practices.
Police said he manipulated a 35-year-old married woman through rituals and claims of divine powers, drugged her with intoxicants, hypnotised her, and repeatedly assaulted her between November 2022 and December 2025.
The survivor later approached the police, following which the Maharashtra government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by IPS officer Tejaswini Satpute to probe the case.
Here’s the backstory:
Ashok Kharat began his career in the Merchant Navy. Due to his travels to various countries, he became fluent in several international languages.
Later, he also learned various South Indian languages spoken within India.
A Delhi court granted 10-day interim bail to activist Sharjeel Imam, an accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case. He walked out of jail on Friday after nearly six years in jail.
According to the police, the gang befriended individuals via a dating app called 'Grindr' and robbed them of cash, jewellery, and funds transferred through UPI. Since the first arrests on Monday, Lucknow Police have been tracking down other victims to dismantle the criminal network.
The police have taken Sohail Malik and Mehak (Sane Iram), the two masterminds, along with four others, into their custody.
A clip of devotees being pushed in the sanctum of Deoghar's Baidyanath Dham made BJP MP Nishikant Dubey slam the Hemant Soren government. However, it has triggered a larger debate on the treatment meted out to common people and the privilege given to VIPs.
The incident dates back to February 18, 2017, when Jitesh Kumar Gandhi attempted to withdraw Rs 10,000 from a State Bank of India ATM but received neither cash nor a transaction receipt. However, his account was debited.
The court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Chhatrapal, while sentencing him to life imprisonment. The case underlined the importance of decisive eyewitness accounts like the mother's testimony in securing timely convictions.
The case relates to the killing of Umesh Kolhe on June 21, 2022, allegedly in retaliation for social media posts supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma following her controversial remarks. Initially registered as a murder case, the investigation was later transferred to the NIA.
A pregnant woman was allegedly strangled by her husband following a monetary dispute in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. Three family members have been arrested as police investigate the case.
Gurugram's Uppal Southend society publicly names maintenance defaulters and warns of service bans. The move boosts payments, with daily recoveries rising, even as residents remain divided over strict enforcement.
Maharashtra has formed an SIT led by IPS Tejaswini Satpute to probe sexual abuse allegations against Ashok Kharat, with an extortion link emerging and assets worth Rs 200 crore under scrutiny.
The three friends were part of a group of 12 people, all from Pune, who were returning from a Jammu and Leh-Ladakh trip. The remaining friends were in two other cars and were at a toll plaza at the time of the incident.
People in Duna village of Jharkhand's Latehar district blamed the man for the death of a woman in a road accident, alleging that he had caused it through sorcery.