SIT secures custody of Kharat till April 13

Nashik: The Special Investigation Team has secured five-day police custody of astrologer Ashok Kharat in the third FIR registered against him on March 21 for allegedly sexually exploiting women, cheating and threatening people with dire consequences.The SIT arrested Kharat on Wednesday at 8 pm and produced him before the court of CJM B N Ichpurani, seeking his police custody in the third complaint filed by the husband of a woman who was then seven-month pregnant and whom Kharat allegedly raped on the pretext of protecting her against evil powers. "The investigating officer had requested a seven-day custody, but the court granted five days of police custody. The police said that Kharat has not been cooperating with them in the investigations so far. Besides the investigations into the complaint is in primary stage," said Shailendra Bagade, the assistant public prosecutor.The police said they wanted to investigate the alleged mistreatment of women under the garb of religious rituals he performed with the victims, identify the source of the "magic stones" (tamarind seeds polished to look like gems) supplied by a person, and probe the use of "aghori" rituals.The police also said they wanted to investigate whether he took videos while conducting religious rituals, where he bought sedatives, track alleged extortion of large sums from devotees through threats and intimidation, recover evidence allegedly used in the Ishanyeshwar temple where scenes were created to threaten his clients, and other aspects.Defence counsel Sachin Bhate said the prosecution had already secured Kharat's police custody for 20 days in the first two cases and failed to produce good reasons for custody in this case. "Besides," said Bhate, "The police had not mentioned spy cam or pen drive in their FIR, and that was included later. On these grounds we opposed the police custody of Kharat," said Bhate.