There was an atmosphere of commotion in Nashik District Court today (29 March) regarding the case related to Maharashtra’s famous impostor Baba Ashok Kharat. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) presented Ashok Kharat in the court of Judge M.V. Bharade amid tight security. Considering the seriousness of the case, the court has sent the accused Ashok Kharat to police custody till April 1.
During the hearing, SIT investigating officer Kiran Suryavanshi and government lawyer Shailendra Bagde argued before the court that the accused was not cooperating in the investigation. The government side told the court that Ashok Kharat has ruined the lives of many women by cheating them. The police have to recover the mobile data of the accused and investigate the illegal assets possessed by him. Police have also expressed suspicion that Kharat has saved the names of many influential and political people in his phone as ‘dummy’, whose identification is very important.
Ashok Kharat is answering very cleverly – lawyer
The victims’ lawyer argued that the accused is a danger to the society. On behalf of the victim women, lawyer M.Y. Kale, while defending, said that the accused is giving very clever answers and is trying to divert the investigation. He argued that Kharat exploited the women by making them drink intoxicating water and made videos of them. The families of the victims are in shock and for justice, it is essential for the accused to remain in police custody and undergo thorough interrogation.
Accused’s lawyer opposed additional remand
During the hearing, heavy police force was deployed outside the court premises. Advocate Sachin Bhate, on behalf of the accused, opposed the additional remand, but considering the seriousness of the crime and incomplete aspects of the investigation, the court has given three more days’ time to the SIT. Now the SIT has got the custody of the accused till April 1, the police will interrogate the accused about his mobile cloning, financial assets and other people involved in this racket.
Many big names likely to be revealed
A major turning point in this case came when news was received quoting sources that State Women Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar has also been issued summons for questioning. According to the information, SIT is now going to investigate all the current and former members of ‘Shivanika Sanstha’. SIT is now keeping a close watch on the financial transactions and activities of this organization, due to which many big names are likely to be exposed in the coming days.