A special court in Mumbai has remanded self-styled godman Ashok Kharat to Enforcement Directorate custody until May 26 in connection with a multi-crore money laundering and extortion investigation. The case involves allegations that he posed as a spiritual figure and collected large sums of money from followers and associates over several years.

According to the Enforcement Directorate, Kharat is facing 12 separate cases of sexual exploitation and financial fraud registered in Nashik and Ahilyanagar. The agency alleged in court that he extorted at least ₹5.62 crore from one complainant alone and diverted funds through multiple bank accounts and fixed deposits. Investigators also claimed that the money was allegedly used for foreign travel, vehicle purchases and medical treatment abroad.

The ED further told the court that Kharat projected himself as an incarnation of Lord Shiva and promised to resolve personal and spiritual problems in exchange for money. The agency said similar allegations have surfaced in multiple FIRs and that transactions worth crores were routed through accounts linked to him, including accounts at Bank of Baroda. Another complainant was allegedly cheated of several crores, according to investigators.

Also Read: Supreme Court Rejects Plea Against Caste Census, Refers Matter to Centre

Officials also alleged that Kharat operated nearly 60 bank accounts and maintained 34 fixed deposit accounts, many of which were allegedly opened without proper Know Your Customer (KYC) documentation. The agency claimed that about ₹23.87 crore was withdrawn in cash and that the source and end use of the funds needed further investigation. It also stated that around ₹24 lakh was transferred to an individual identified as Kalpana Kharat.

During the hearing, the Enforcement Directorate sought 10 days of custodial interrogation, arguing that multiple individuals may have assisted in managing the accounts and that further questioning was necessary to trace the flow of funds. The defence opposed the plea, arguing that all relevant records were already available with investigators and questioning delays in filing complaints related to the alleged offences.

In court, Kharat denied wrongdoing, stating that deposits were made on the advice of a cooperative credit society manager to earn higher interest rates. He also claimed he was unaware of nominees listed on various accounts. After hearing both sides, the court granted ED custody till May 26 for further investigation.

Also Read: Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin Hold Formal Talks and Tea Diplomacy in Beijing