The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against Ashok Kharat, a self-proclaimed godman from Nashik, and others in response to multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) lodged against them in Nashik and other cities. Kharat, an astrologer who was apprehended last month following allegations of repeated rape by a married woman over a three-year period, faces serious accusations including sexual misconduct and violations of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.
In addition to the mentioned charges, Kharat is implicated in financial irregularities, land encroachment, and illicit real estate transactions across various locations. The ED initiated the ECIR against him and his associates on April 4 to investigate allegations that Kharat acquired multiple properties through fraudulent means and schemes.
The focus of the money laundering investigation will be on tracing the illicit proceeds. Sources indicate that the investigative agency intends to detain Kharat to extract further details regarding the alleged fraudulent activities and his network of accomplices. The ED is expected to launch the inquiry with raids soon, while documents related to the primary accusations against Kharat, currently under scrutiny by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Maharashtra Police, have been shared with the ED.
Ashok Kharat, also known as ‘Captain’ Kharat, a former merchant navy officer, was arrested for purportedly engaging in rape and exploitation under the guise of religious practices. The police allege that he manipulated a married woman through rituals and claims of divine powers, administered intoxicants, hypnotized her, and subjected her to repeated assaults between November 2022 and December 2025. Multiple women have since reported instances of sexual abuse, with the number of complainants continuing to rise.