A day after being remanded to magisterial custody in a rape and black magic case, self-styled ‘godman’ Ashok Kharat has now been sent to police custody till April 8, 2026, by a Nashik court in connection with another rape case. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) told the court that the accused had “not been cooperating in the investigation,” prompting the demand for custodial interrogation.

Kharat was produced before the court via video conferencing on April 2, where his defence claimed that “objectionable videos were selectively being leaked on social media intentionally” to damage his reputation. However, the prosecution presented serious allegations, stating that he had raped a woman, impregnated her, and later forced her to undergo an abortion. Ashok Kharat Viral Videos Scandal: Nashik ‘Godman’ Arrested in S*x Assault Case Was Named in 2022 Suicide Note.

“He gave her medicines for abortion. He is the mastermind. He has not been co-operating with the police,” the investigating officer told the court. The prosecution further alleged that the victim was sexually exploited repeatedly between February 2020 and March 2026 and was threatened regarding the safety of her children.

According to the prosecution, “She was threatened about the well-being of her children… When she became pregnant, he gave her abortion pills. He forced the relatives of the victim… to give their Aadhaar card and PAN card.” It was also alleged that sedatives were administered to the victim and that Kharat followed a similar pattern with multiple victims. Ashok Kharat and Soham Naik Viral Videos: Why are They Compared to the Epstein Files.

Seeking seven days of custody, the SIT said it needed to determine the medicines administered and the motive behind collecting personal documents of the victim’s family. Meanwhile, the defence argued that the timeline of the alleged offences was unclear and questioned the applicability of charges.

“Without [the Black Magic Act], the issue of consent becomes immaterial… without which rape cannot be proven,” the defence said, opposing police custody.

After hearing both sides, the court granted police custody. Kharat, who stood with folded hands during the hearing, refused to comment on the allegations.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 04, 2026 12:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).