SIT flooded with over 50 phone calls on Nashik 'godman' held for rape; complaints being verified

Mumbai: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) conducting a probe against rape accused and self-styled godman Ashok Kharat has received more than 50 calls in the last five days providing information or reporting crimes allegedly committed by him, officials said on Friday.

The Maharashtra government-appointed SIT earlier published two mobile phone numbers for citizens to share information regarding Kharat or report any offence committed by him, they said.

The police have so far registered eight FIRs against Nashik-based Kharat after receiving multiple complaints involving allegations of sexual assault, extortion, and circulation of objectionable material.

Kharat, who heads a temple trust at Sinnar in Nashik district and had several political leaders visit him over the years, was arrested on March 18 after a 35-year-old woman accused him of repeated rape over a period of three years. Following his arrest, multiple rape complaints were filed against him.

A senior official said that since the launch of the two dedicated mobile numbers, the probe team received an average of 15 to 20 phone calls daily.

Of the calls received in the last five days, more than 50 were about complaints against Kharat, he said, adding that the team is verifying the complaints.

The SIT has assured that to keep the identities of those providing information or reporting a crime strictly confidential, he said.

The SIT visited Kharat's office in Nashik on Friday, accompanied by the forensic science team.

A team of police officials recovered several documents and files, a diary and papers from the office, the official said.

The Nashik district administration has, meanwhile, suspended the former Merchant Navy officer's arms licence, citing that with multiple cases against him, he might use weapons to threaten and intimidate victims.

Nashik collector Ayush Prasad on Tuesday issued an order suspending Kharat's arms licence, another official said.

Kharat, a resident of Mirgaon in Sinnar, obtained a revolver licence on October 15, 2012, renewed it on January 1, 2024, with validity till December 2028, he said.

After a case was registered against Kharat at the Sarkarwada police station, the police recovered a weapon and bullets from him.

The licence was suspended under section 17(3) of the Arms Act. Moral turpitude is a valid ground for suspension of the licence, the order stated.