Ashok Kharat has been in jail for over five months
Additional sessions judge Nandkishor More rejected Kharat’s application in a case registered at Sarkarwada police station on March 22.
The woman told her husband about the incident but initially did not approach police, citing Kharat’s political influence. Kharat faces multiple offences, including cases involving allegations of rape or outraging the modesty of women whom he allegedly sought to influence by projecting himself as a “god-man and spiritual guide”, according to police records cited in the case. She later lodged a complaint after learning that another sexual assault case had been registered against him. Police booked Kharat under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act. The court, however, noted that several other offences were registered against him at Sarkarwada and Sinnar police stations in Nashik district and Rahata police station in Ahilyanagar district. It observed that granting bail could adversely affect other cases where trials were yet to begin.
The court cited the multiple criminal cases registered against him while denying relief. Kharat sought bail claiming he had been falsely implicated. He argued that the investigation was complete and nothing remained to be recovered from him. He also offered to cooperate with investigators and comply with conditions imposed by the court.
Nashik : A Nashik court on Saturday rejected the bail plea of astrologer Ashok Kharat in a case involving alleged sexual assault and black magic.