The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing rape and cheating allegations against self-styled godman Ashok Kharat has detained his son Harshvardhan in Nashik for questioning, while a search is underway to trace his wife, police said.
Kharat is facing at least 10 FIRs at the Sarkarwada police station, including eight cases of alleged sexual assault or exploitation and two related to cheating. Investigators have also received over 100 complaints via phone against him, indicating the scale of the allegations.
On Tuesday, an SIT team reached Kharat’s residence in Karmayogi Nagar and detained his son after failing to locate his wife, Kalpana Kharat. Harshvardhan was subsequently taken to the Maharashtra Police Academy for further questioning, officials said.
Meanwhile, Kharat remains in police custody, which is set to end on Wednesday, after which he will be produced before a local court.
In a parallel development, police in neighbouring Ahilyanagar district have registered a fresh cheating case against five individuals, including Kharat’s wife, in connection with an alleged land fraud exceeding ₹4 crore.
Authorities in Shirdi have arrested two accused—identified as Arvind Bawake and Kiran Sonawane—in connection with the case. Kharat’s wife remains absconding, and efforts are ongoing to trace her.
According to officials, a landowner from Shirdi had taken an unsecured loan of ₹5.52 crore from Kharat’s wife against four acres of land. Despite repaying around ₹1.5 crore, the accused allegedly attempted to usurp the property, prompting the victim to file a complaint.
Based on the complaint, a case has been registered under charges of fraud and provisions of the Maharashtra Money Lending (Regulation) Act. Kharat, his wife, and a middleman have been named among the accused.
The investigation into both the sexual assault allegations and financial irregularities is ongoing as authorities continue to widen the probe.
