Ashok Kharat: Nashik doctors and sonography centres aided conman's abortion plans? SIT probes

Some medical professionals in Nashik are likely to have helped self-styled godman Ashok Kharat access abortion pills to be handed over to women he sexually assaulted, the SIT probing his criminal activities suspects. According to local media reports, even doctors in government service could have helped the jailed conman from Nashik.

The SIT is likely to summon doctors whom they suspect to have connections with Ashok Kharat soon for questioning, Marathi news reports said. Some sonography centres have also come under the radar of the probe team, the report added.

ALSO READ | '35 videos of eight women': CM Fadnavis confirms Ashok Kharat drugged women to rape them

Ashok Kharat lured women by convincing them he was a divine personality or an “Avatari Purush” (incarnation). Under the pretext of solving their personal problems, often family issues, he managed to gain their trust and sexually exploited them. If they became pregnant following his sexual crimes, abortion pills were handed over, TV9 Marathi said in a report.

Meanwhile, a holiday court in Nashik on Sunday remanded Kharat in police custody until 23 April in the fifth case of sexual assault and exploitation registered against him.

ALSO READ | Ashok Kharat sexually abusing pregnant woman triggered whistleblower to set up hidden camera: Report

Kharat, who was arrested on 18 March after a 35-year-old woman lodged a rape complaint against him at Sarkarwada police station, has since been accused of sexually assaulting several women and indulging in large-scale financial fraud by claiming to have divine powers and knowledge of black magic.

Kharat was formally placed under arrest on Saturday in the fifth case, in which he is accused of cheating the victim by using black magic and pretending to be an incarnation of God. He was presented in court on Sunday through video conferencing by the police, who sought five-day custody.