Ahilyanagar court sends astrologer Ashok Kharat in 14-day judicial custody

Nashik: The Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court of P R Phulari in Rahata, Ahilyanagar, on Saturday remanded astrologer Ashok Kharat (65) to 14 days of judicial custody. Kharat had been in the custody of the Shirdi police since May 5 in connection with a cheating and illegal money lending case registered on March 31.Assistant public prosecutor (APP) Gaurav Borde sought an extension of two more days of police custody for further investigation. The court, however, rejected the request, observing that the grounds for additional custody were insufficient, and instead remanded him to judicial custody.The case involves allegations of cheating a farmer. Based on the complaint, the Shirdi police registered offences under sections 316 (2) (criminal breach of trust) and 318 (2) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 39 of the Maharashtra Money Lending (Regulation) Act, 2014.Five people, including Kharat and his wife Kalpana, have been named as accused in the case. Whereabouts of Kalpana have been unknown since the FIR was lodged on March 31.Kharat also faces two separate cases at the Rahata and Srirampur police stations in Ahilyanagar district, as well as two more cases in Sinnar. Additionally, the Nashik city police may seek his custody in connection with three other cases registered at the Sarkarwada police station, which the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has not investigated.Police officers said once Kharat was transferred to Nashik Road Central Prison, investigating agencies in pending cases would approach the court to seek his custodial remand.Kharat has been in custody since March 16, when the first case of sexual assault and alleged black magic practices was registered against him at the Sarkarwada police station. The state-appointed SIT has so far investigated eight such cases against him.