ED moves special court against Nashik astrologer Ashok Kharat, alleges Rs 70 crore banking transactions

MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) moved a special court on Wednesday seeking the production of Nashik-based Ashok Kharat accused of running a money laundering operation by exploiting spiritual faith. The ED said it uncovered banking transactions exceeding Rs 70 crore."It is also revealed during the investigation that Ashok Kharat used to gain the confidence of so many followers and started extorting huge cash from his devotees and victims and converted the same into accounted money through banking channels through the persons associated with him and the details are known to... Kharat," the plea said.The agency alleged Kharat opened 60 bank accounts using devotees' documents without consent, with 43 opened in a single day. All accounts were linked to his mobile number, giving him control over the funds. The ED said cash deposits of over Rs 9 crore were routed through these accounts and described them as proceeds of crime from organised extortion and religious manipulation.According to the plea, the allegations across the FIRs indicate a pattern of "grave and organised criminal activities" involving extortion through religious manipulation, inducement and drug-facilitated acts, targeting multiple victims across Maharashtra. The ED said Kharat allegedly gained victims' trust by offering religious guidance and business support, involving them in rituals and meetings, and then induced them to spend money at his instance on foreign travel, a luxury vehicle (a Mercedes), medical treatment, construction and other purposes. When a complainant demanded return of money after realising he had been misled, Kharat allegedly threatened him. The ED said the extortion from one complainant is alleged to be for Rs 4–5 crore.The application alleged he administered "prasad" or drinks laced with sedatives to women, sexually assaulted them while unconscious or semi-conscious, recorded the acts and used the recordings to blackmail victims and extort money by threatening to release the footage. It also alleged an extortion racket operated with aides to extract crores under the guise of "settling" cases, and deceptive demonstrations including staged rituals and props such as remote-controlled fake snakes and tiger skins.The ED said he allegedly sold common items such as wild tamarind seeds as "blessed" items for Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh by claiming divine healing powers, and used threats to coerce landowners into selling valuable land at undervalued prices.In its PMLA probe, the ED said it noticed Kharat acquired movable and immovable properties, including land and other assets, in his name and in the names of family members and associates, allegedly from funds accumulated through extortion and by selling items such as tamarind seeds and honey as "blessed" products.The ED said it gathered that Kharat opened 60 bank accounts in the names of various individuals with Samata Nagari Cooperative Credit Society (Samata Pat Sanstha) in Rahata, with the mobile number linked to all accounts allegedly belonging to Kharat and with Kharat listed as nominee in all accounts. The agency said 43 accounts were opened in a single day on May 25, 2021, in addition to five accounts opened earlier in the names of family members of Arvind Pandurang Bawake. It said the remaining accounts were opened later on Oct 30, 2024 (nine accounts) and Oct 31, 2024 (three accounts), again with Kharat as nominee and his mobile number linked.The ED alleged the 60 accounts were interlinked to 48 "special saving accounts" described as fixed deposits, and that transactions worth more than Rs 70 crore were conducted through them, including credit transactions of Rs 35.5 crore and debit transactions of Rs 35.2 crore. It said cash deposits of Rs 9.2 crore were made into these accounts and the source of the cash is to be ascertained from Kharat. The agency stated that in total, 60 saving accounts and 48 special saving accounts were opened by Kharat.The application said one account opened in the name of a man led to an FIR at Rahata police station, with the complainant alleging the Samata Pat Sanstha accounts were opened without his knowledge. The FIR names Kharat and Samata Nagari Cooperative Credit Society.The ED also referred to Shri Jagdamba Mata Gramin Bigar Sheti Sahakari Patsanstha Maryadit, stating Kharat served as vice-chairman from 2007 to 2012 and chairman from Aug 3, 2022 to Sept 3, 2024, and was an authorised signatory to the patsanstha's Saraswat Bank accounts. The agency alleged he opened 34 FD/current accounts in the names of various benami persons between 2014 and 2024, including two accounts in his and his spouse Kalpana Kharat's names, and that these accounts were closed in 2023–2024 by withdrawing FD amounts in cash. It alleged the accounts were opened without obtaining or maintaining account opening forms or KYC documentation.The ED said it conducted searches at Kharat's residential and office premises, recovering property documents and real-estate related records that are under scrutiny, with money trails being examined. It also alleged Kharat converted cash extorted from devotees and victims into accounted money through banking channels using associated persons.The agency told the court Kharat's production is required to advance the investigation, identify other persons' roles, quantify proceeds of crime, trace layering and ultimate beneficiaries, confront him with documents and statements recorded under PMLA, and examine possible cross-border implications of the proceeds of crime.The ED said a special investigation team (SIT) in Nashik arrested Kharat on March 18, 2026, in the predicate offence case, and that open sources indicate around 10 FIRs against him being investigated by SIT Nashik, along with two cheating FIRs at Shirdi and Rahata being investigated by Shirdi police. The plea said the SIT has been taking custody of Kharat in each FIR sequentially for interrogation in sexual assault cases, and sought directions for ED custody "on priority" in view of alleged money-laundering activities.