‘Divine’ trap, sexual abuse, Rs 5 crore threat: What CM Devendra Fadnavis revealed in astrologer Ashok Kharat case

MUMBAI: CM Devendra Fadnavis said in the legislative assembly on Tuesday that police had submitted a report to the airport authorities asking them to issue a lookout circular against astrologer Ashok Kharat before his arrest.

There was a possibility that Kharat would have fled the country and escaped, and it would have been hard to catch him (if he did), the CM said while making a statement in the assembly on the case.





CM Fadnavis said Kharat, claiming to be a "divine incarnation," exploited women, sexually assaulted them and urinated on women in the name of giving them holy water. He said eight cases in all have been registered in the matter, and "no one who helped Ashok Kharat will be spared." Fadnavis said further investigation is underway in the case and information will be provided from time to time.

"In the Kharat case, the accused had demanded Rs 5 crore by threatening to make a woman's photo viral. A case has been registered in Nashik. On Feb 18, 2026, Neeraj Jadhav (Kharat's office staffer) made an AI photo viral and then deleted it. Due to this, the woman concerned could not provide evidence against Jadhav. But victims in this case have been taken into confidence, counselled, and without making their identities public, cases have been registered. An SIT has been formed. Investigation is underway through the SIT," Fadnavis said.

The CM said that in the Kharat case, some more female victims were identified, counselled and persuaded to file a complaint. While work is underway to delete photos and videos of the female victims from social media, Fadnavis said Kharat's 33 acres of land, farmhouse and other lands, flats, 40 gunthas in Panvel, a flat in Pune in the name of his daughter, and a marriage hall in Sinnar have been seized. "So far, assets worth Rs 40 crore have come to light. Also, property in the name of Kharat's relatives is under investigation. The accused's Shivnika Sansthan is being probed. The victim and the accused in this case have been medically examined... Five cases have been registered after taking statements of four women victims," he said.

The CM further said, "A woman filed a complaint at Sarkarwada police station on March 17 saying she was raped repeatedly after being given a sedative and threatened that her husband will be killed. Ashok Kharat used to hypnotize women. In the name of performing a ritual, he would sexually assault them... He also threatened that if anyone revealed all this anywhere, they would incur 'divine wrath.' During preliminary investigation of this crime, Rs 6 lakh in cash and two laptops were seized. A digital video recorder (DVR), revolver, live cartridges and five fired cartridges were found. Accordingly, the accused was arrested on March 17."
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