Nashik Astrologer Arrested for Rape; Chief of Women's Commission Resigns
The arrest of "Captain" Ashok Kharat for serial sexual exploitation and blackmail under the guise of divine astrology has triggered a high-level SIT probe.
The arrest of Ashok Kharat, a retired Merchant Navy officer and temple trust chairman, has unraveled a dark web of sexual predatoriness, black magic, and political fallout now dubbed the "Maharashtra Epstein Files."
Kharat used his religious influence at the Shree Ishaneshwar Mahadev Temple to groom victims. By orchestrating "divine" coincidences and using numbing substances, he allegedly raped and blackmailed women under the guise of spiritual rituals. Threats of "deadly curses" on their families kept victims silenced for years.
Following a victim's complaint in mid-March 2026, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) raided Kharat’s properties in Mirgaon, Nashik, and Sinnar, recovering:
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58 intimate videos used for blackmail.
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An unlicensed pistol and cartridges.
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Materials used for illegal black magic practices.
The scandal forced the resignation of Rupali Chakankar, Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission, on March 20th. Photos and videos showing her performing ritualistic service for Kharat (washing his feet) sparked an outcry from the opposition, led by Sushma Andhare. While Chakankar claims the acts were family tradition, she stepped down to ensure a "transparent investigation."
MLA Yogesh Kadam has called for more survivors to come forward, promising state protection and a crackdown on those using astrology as a front for exploitation.
