In Nashik, Maharashtra, police have arrested prominent astrologer Ashok Kharat for the repeated sexual assault of a 35-year-old woman over more than three years. A local court has remanded him in custody until March 24 following his arrest.
Details of the Arrest
Investigators recovered at least 58 videos, including objectionable material, from a pen drive in Kharat’s possession. The case draws comparisons to high-profile scandals, with opposition leaders labeling it Maharashtra’s ‘Epstein Files’ due to the recorded assaults.
UBT Sena MP Sanjay Raut stated, “All this is like Jeffrey Epstein files. In fact, it is more horrifying than that. I have got a few videos. I believe there are some people from BJP and the ruling alliance. If the police has extracted 56 such clips from his phone, then the Maharashtra government will fall.”
Victim’s Ordeal
The woman first approached Kharat in 2019 with a relative for marriage advice. After a pandemic-related delay, she returned in 2022 upon finding a prospective partner. Kharat provided a pendant, insisting she never remove it. When she did for an exam, her marriage prospect collapsed, deepening her trust in his supposed divine powers.
He coerced her into rituals and assaulted her for the first time using a numbing concoction, then threatened her with lifelong singledom if she resisted. Even after her marriage, the exploitation continued until December 2025, with threats that her husband would die if she refused his demands.
Evidence and Searches
A raid on his Mirgaon residence uncovered documents, a pistol, and cartridges. Kharat, known as ‘Captain’ from his Merchant Navy background, chairs the Shree Ishaneshwar Mahadev Temple Trust in Sinnar taluka.
Pattern of Exploitation
Probe reveals Kharat targeted multiple women, luring them to his office with promises to solve personal issues. He allegedly administered intoxicants, assaulted them, and used threats involving harm to spouses or occult fears.
His Ishanyeshwar Temple and luxury retreat in Mirgaon drew visits from politicians, celebrities, and business leaders, enhancing his influence as a spiritual figure.
