SIT to produce astrologer Kharat in court for custody in third case

Nashik: The special investigation team (SIT) investigating cases involving astrologer Ashok Kharat will seek his police custody in the third case on Thursday.The court of chief judicial magistrate B N Ichpurani on Wednesday remanded Kharat to 14-day judicial custody in connection with the second case registered against him.Senior police officials said Kharat will be taken to the Nashik Road Central Prison and will be re-arrested in the third case from the prison to produce him in court for police custody. Kharat, who has been under arrest since March 17, remained in SIT custody for the second case from April 2. At the end of his custody on Wednesday, the SIT produced him in the court of chief judicial magistrate B N Ichpurani through video conferencing mode to avoid the security logistics arising from a heavy crowd of lawyers and locals.APP Ravindra Bagade said the SIT sought Kharat's 14-day judicial custody in the second case while keeping its prerogative reserved for his police custody.The SIT also sought the court's permission to arrest the astrologer in the third case registered against him with the Sarkarwada police station. The police said the case relates to rape and outraging modesty, punishable under relevant sections of the BNS and other sections of the Maharashtra Prevention of Black Magic Act.Apart from pressing rape charges, the complainant in the case also accused Kharat of money laundering and scaring people with toy snakes and tigers to extort money from them.SIT officials said they would take custody of Kharat in every case they were investigating.