Overview
- Kharat, a retired merchant navy officer turned astrologer, was arrested on March 18 in Nashik and remanded to police custody until March 24.
- The Maharashtra government has appointed an SIT led by IPS officer Tejaswi Satpute, which has begun interrogations and is supervising the crime branch probe.
- Police say searches recovered a pen drive containing 58 videos, asset documents, and a pistol with cartridges, and the recordings are being verified.
- The FIR alleges repeated sexual assault between 2022 and December 2025 using sedatives, intimidation, and claims of occult powers, with charges under the BNS and the state’s anti‑black magic law.
- Images and videos showing Kharat with political figures, including women’s panel chief Rupali Chakankar and leaders who visited his temple in 2022, have fueled calls for accountability and appeals for other potential victims to come forward.