ED gets Godman Ashok Kharat’s custody till May 26 in Rs 70 crore money laundering case
A Special PMLA Court in Mumbai on Wednesday remanded self-styled godman Ashok Kharat to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till May 26 in connection with an alleged Rs 70 crore money laundering case.
Kharat was produced before the court a day after his arrest by the ED. The central agency had sought 10 days of custody for detailed interrogation and investigation into the alleged financial fraud.
The ED registered the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on April 6 based on an FIR lodged by Nashik Police. The FIR includes charges of extortion, religious manipulation, and drug-facilitated assault involving multiple women victims.
Kharat is already facing several cases related to rape, sexual exploitation and fraud. He was arrested by Nashik Police on March 18 after a married woman accused him of repeatedly raping her over a period of three years.
According to the ED, Kharat allegedly operated a large extortion racket and laundered more than Rs 70 crore through a network of benami bank accounts.
Officials said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is currently probing 12 separate cases of sexual exploitation and financial fraud registered against him in Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts.
Earlier, Kharat was in judicial custody in Nashik before being brought to Mumbai on a production warrant for the ED investigation.
