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Ahilyanagar police to probe Kharat’s money trail, police remand of his associates extended
District SP Somnath Gharge told HT that the police are examining the money trail linked to Kharat’s more than 100 bank accounts, which were opened under fictitious names.
PUNE/NASHIK: The Ahilyanagar police have launched an investigation to determine whether the arrested self-styled godman, Ashok Kharat, was involved in additional cases of land fraud targeting farmers in the district.
District SP Somnath Gharge told HT that the police are examining the money trail linked to Kharat’s more than 100 bank accounts, which were opened under fictitious names. While the account holders’ names differed, all accounts listed Kharat as the nominee, and the registered mobile numbers for all accounts belonged to him.
“Kharat carried out transactions from these accounts, as OTPs were sent to his mobile number. So far, we have identified transactions exceeding ₹60 crore. Our teams are working to trace the details and purpose of these transactions. We are not ruling out Kharat’s involvement in other fraud cases in the district,” Gharge said.
The SP urged anyone who believes they have been defrauded by Kharat to file complaints with the police.
Recently, Shirdi-based farmer Raosaheb Gondkar accused Kharat, his wife Kalpana, and associates Kiran Sonewane, Arvind Bawke, and Ashok Tambe of fraudulently acquiring his four-acre land. Police said Sonewane, Bawke, and Tambe are Kharat’s associates and allegedly have knowledge of his illicit activities in the district.
Kalpana Kharat and Ashok Tambe remain at large, with the local police issuing a lookout circular against Kalpana on Thursday. Meanwhile, the local court in Rahata, Ahilyanagar, extended the police remand of Sonewane and Bawke by three days. The court had initially granted three days of custody, which concluded on Friday.
Special assistant public prosecutor GV Borde said he had requested a five-day extension before judicial magistrate first class PS Girgoankar, but the court approved only three days.
“The police require additional custody to recover money taken from the farmer, as well as documents, bank cheque books, passbooks, and other electronic evidence. The accused can also provide details about Kharat’s financial transactions in the district,” Borde explained.
The defence counsel opposed further remand, arguing that the two accused were not involved in the transactions between Kharat and Gondkar and had no relevant information to share with the police.
