21 overseas trips & a Mercedes: How Pune bizman lost Rs 5cr to astrologer Ashok Kharat’s snake trick

NASHIK: The Sarkarwada Police have registered an eighth FIR against arrested astrologer Ashok Kharat after a Pune businessman lodged a complaint accusing Kharat of defrauding him of nearly Rs5 crore through death threats and black magic.Rajendra Ashok Jasud (51), a construction and logistics businessman from Hadapsar in Pune, stated in his complaint that he met Kharat in June 2018 through a mutual friend to seek blessings for a new logistics venture he wanted to establish on a global platform. Kharat convinced Jasud that he possessed divine powers and also that service to him would secure Jasud immense opportunities, the complaint stated. Jasud alleged that the astrologer used fear of death and black magic to extort money, vehicles, and luxury furniture from the him over a period of seven years. He stated that during his visit to Ishanyeshwar temple founded by Kharat at Mirgaon in Sinnar tehsil of Nashik district, the astrolger used the snake-trick (using plastic snakes) and told Jasud that ‘Nag Devata' wanted Jasud to arrange for Kharat's visit to 21 countries to make him powerful to ensure success to the complainant, the FIR stated.Between 2018 and 2024, Kharat forced Jasud to fund trips to countries including Myanmar, Greenland, the USA, Egypt, and Bangladesh under the constant threat of lethal black magic, the FIR stated.Jasud further claimed that he was pressured into paying for the construction of Kharat's farmhouse and purchasing high-end furniture from Turkey and Pune, totaling over Rs 2 crore in construction and furnishing costs alone. Jasud was also forced by Kharat to take him to USA for treatment in hospitals in 2019 that incurred him the cost of Rs 30 lakh, the FIR said.Kharat during his interactions with Jasud, claimed that ‘Uttar Puja' was necessary for the success of the business and asked him to gift a luxury car (Mercedes-Benz) required to start the ritual with a rider that failure woul lead to his immediate death. Fearing for life Jasud complied to the demand in 2023.Sometime later when complainant grew suspicious about the entire things, demanded his money back. Kharat then threatended Jasud that he would eliminate Jasud's family.The Sarkarwada police have booked Kharat under sections 308(2), 308(5), 127(2), 351(2), and 351(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant sections of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.