Videos of sexual exploitation committed by Ashok Kharat have been removed from as many as 170 websites of a pornographic nature so far, a Marathi news report said, citing police sources. Despite the best efforts of the administration, videos of the self-styled godman's sexual crimes had leaked online, hindering the ongoing probe.
As a consequence of the video leak, not just the survivors but their immediate families have been confined to their residences. Fearing the worst, some of them have even requested or availed themselves of work-from-home opportunities from their employers, media reports said. Despite the best efforts of government agencies, the women are facing harassment, the report added.
Officials are concerned as the viral circulation of the said videos in cyberspace is also discouraging potential witnesses from coming forward, TV9 Marathi said in a report. It was the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that stated these videos have been removed from 170 websites.
Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had taken note of the issue and directed strict action against media platforms that fail to follow guidelines while broadcasting such content; notices have since been issued to several news channels.
A Nashik court on Wednesday remanded the rape-accused self-styled godman in 14-day judicial custody. Kharat was arrested on 18 March after a 35-year-old woman accused him of repeated rape over a period of three years. Following his arrest, multiple rape complaints were filed against him. At least 10 FIRs—eight for alleged sexual assault or exploitation and two for cheating—have been registered against Kharat at the Sarkarwada police station in Nashik, while the SIT has received more than 100 complaints against him over the phone.