The Ashok Kharat saga began in mid‑March 2026, when Nashik police arrested self‑proclaimed astrologer and spiritual adviser widely referred to as a “godman” on charges of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 35‑year‑old woman over several years.

The Ashok Kharat saga began in mid‑March 2026, when Nashik police arrested self‑proclaimed astrologer and spiritual adviser widely referred to as a “godman” on charges of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 35‑year‑old woman over several years. The woman alleged that Kharat used his supposed supernatural powers to instill fear and coerce compliance, including threats that her husband would die if she didn’t obey him and assaulting her after giving her sedative‑laced concoctions disguised as ritual “holy water.” The first FIR was registered on March 17, leading to Kharat being remanded in police custody while a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to probe not only the sexual assault case but also related charges of exploitation and financial wrongdoing.

Ashok Kharat in AI Representational

A cascade of FIRs

Soon after the initial arrest, more women began registering FIRs against Kharat, suggesting a pattern of abuse under the guise of spiritual guidance.A seventh rape case was added when a 24‑year‑old woman accused him of giving her sedative‑laced water under the pretext of helping her career and repeatedly sexually exploiting her between July and December 2024. Police charged him under various sections, including those against rape and blackmail, and the state government expanded the SIT to handle the growing caseload.

In addition to rape complaints, the SIT received over 100 calls from alleged victims or relatives, with complaints ranging from sexual harassment to cheating and exploitation. Some callers described being charged exorbitant fees or sold cheap items at high prices, allegedly under the astrologer’s influence. This deluge of complaints led to a flurry of FIRs and signalled the scale of the alleged exploitation racket. Soon, the number of registered cases exceeded eight, including non‑sexual offences such as cheating and extortion.

The ‘financial crimes’

Beyond sexual exploitation, the investigation widened to economic offences. An FIR for cheating, criminal breach of trust and illegal money lending was registered in Shirdi’s Ahilyanagar district, all linked to land worth nearly ₹10 crore that Kharat allegedly acquired through fraudulent loan agreements and forced transactions. Two associates were arrested, while Kharat’s wife — Kalpana — and another accused remained absconding.

In a separate development, an another case where a Pune businessman alleged that Kharat used fear, black magic and threats to extract luxury gifts and payments worth nearly Rs 5 crore over years — a pattern reminiscent of extortion.

The name ‘Captain Baba’

Kharat hailed from Kahandalwadi village in Nashik district. His early years were marked by turbulence — after failing his Class 10 examination in the 1970s, his father reportedly gave him Rs 4,000 to hand over to someone, but he allegedly fled with the money instead.Years later, Kharat claimed to have joined the merchant navy, asserting that he rose to the rank of captain within a decade.

However, some accounts contradict this, suggesting his stint lasted only around four years and that he did not rise beyond the position of a sailor.In the 1990s, he shifted to Nashik city, where he began working as an astrologer and face reader. By the early 2000s, he had established a real estate advisory firm, ‘Okas Property’, in Canada Corner areaDespite its stated purpose, sources indicated that most interactions at the office revolved not around property deals but occult practices.His claims of having studied astrology and numerology internationally helped him quickly build a following, eventually earning him the name.

An investigation

The SIT’s work has extended beyond FIRs, with authorities collecting evidence from Kharat’s office and related premises. Forensic teams seized devices and found alleged evidence of manipulation — including phone contacts saved under various aliases — and are examining whether drugs or other substances were used to incapacitate victims. While initial custody was extended till April 1, the court subsequently remanded Kharat to 14 days of judicial custody, marking a key procedural development.

Who exposed the ‘godman’?

The alleged exposure came through 35-year-old office assistant Neeraj Jadhav, who himself has been accused of attempting to blackmail Kharat before eventually handing over evidence to the police.Jadhav had reportedly begun working for Kharat in 2019. Over time, he is said to have become suspicious of his employer’s activities. Acting on these doubts, he, along with a friend, allegedly installed a concealed camera inside Kharat’s office to collect evidence.

A political storm

As the probe gathered pace, the case quickly transcended its criminal roots to become a major political controversy in Maharashtra. At the centre of the political backlash was Rupali Chakankar, the chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women and a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Following repeated allegations about her links with Kharat and his trust, Chakankar was asked by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to step down from the women’s commission to ensure an impartial investigation. Shortly after resigning as the women’s panel chief, Chakankar also quit her role as state president of the NCP’s women’s wing, under internal party pressure and amidst mounting criticism from opposition parties and activists. In her resignation statement, she denied any financial or active involvement in Kharat’s alleged crimes.Chakankar’s resignation did little to quell the political uproar. Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, argued that it was not sufficient and demanded legal action and a comprehensive investigation into her association with the accused astrologer. They called for her inclusion in FIRs and for transparency in the probe’s political dimensions. The controversy also sparked discussion within the NCP, with party members urging senior leadership, including Sunetra Pawar, now state NCP president, to act decisively to shore up the party’s image. Calls came for broader accountability and for political figures who had visited or publicly supported Kharat over the years to explain themselves. Across the aisle, activists and critics painted the controversy as symptomatic of deeper issues in Maharashtra politics, with some opposition voices even likening the fallout to high‑profile global scandals, demanding fresh accountability measures and victim support mechanisms.

Beyond FIRs

The controversy has also led to administrative actions. The state government ordered a review and cancellation of a bulk water sanction previously granted in 2020 to the trust headed by Kharat, part of efforts to scrutinise how government benefits were extended to entities associated with the accused. In parallel, civic activists have petitioned the government to investigate questionable land transactions allegedly involving Kharat’s associates — including a prime Pune plot reportedly acquired under suspicious circumstances without charity commission approval — potentially implicating broader institutional lapses.

More women come forward

The ramifications of the Ashok Kharat case have echoed beyond Nashik. In nearby Palghar district, police booked another self‑styled godman for rape after the complainant found the courage to allege abuse following the high‑profile Kharat arrests, suggesting the Nashik case may have empowered other victims to come forward