Cops probing ‘human sacrifice’ angle behind recovery of 5 spent cartridges of revolver from Kharat’s farmhouse: State tells Nashik court

Nashik: The prosecution on Tuesday told a magisterial court in the city that the police were investigating the likelihood of five spent cartridges of a revolver, seized along with 21 live cartridges from astrologer Ashok Kharat's farmhouse, used for "causing any bodily harm, murder or human sacrifice."The special investigation team's (SIT) ongoing probe is also focused on establishing how much and where Kharat may have acquired movable and immovable properties and in whose names, additional public prosecutor (APP) Shailendra Bagade told the court.Additional chief judicial magistrate KH Patil extended Kharat's remand in police custody till March 29 during a proceeding in a packed courtroom.An SIT official, who did not wish to be named, later told TOI, "We want to investigate where Kharat used the five rounds. There could be a possibility of human sacrifice which we want to verify. Hence, we have mentioned human sacrifice angle as one of the grounds to seek his extended custodial remand."On reports in a section of media that the police have unearthed assets worth Rs1,500 crore and 100 objectionable videos besides the Income Tax department is assisting them in the matter, the officer said, "We haven't come across anything to show properties of this worth and scale as our investigation is at a primary stage. A lot of speculation is going on, including in the media, regarding amassed properties. We have not involved the IT department in the investigation as well."Nashik police arrested Kharat on March 17 based on a complaint by a woman that he repeatedly raped her between Nov 2022 and Dec 2025 on the pretext of using his spiritual powers and conducting religious rituals to cure her of some curse. The woman alleged that he also threatened her against disclosing her woes to any person.A Nashik court then remanded Kharat in police custody till March 24.In between, the state set up an SIT under senior IPS officer Tejaswi Satpute as more complaints of rape, black magic and ‘aghori' practices by Kharat came to the fore and the issue took a political turn due to his connections with several political leaders.Deputy Superintendent of Police (SIT) Kirankumar Suryawanshi, who is the investigating officer, produced Kharat before ACJM Patil at the end of the astrologer's initial custody remand. Bagade cited the police's remand report and submitted the need for further extension of Kharat's custodial remand to facilitate probe into the possible ‘human sacrifice' angle. The police also needed to ascertain if there were other people who assisted Kharat in the alleged crimes, the prosecutor submitted.Bagade said the police during the course of investigation found out that the accused told several witnesses that there was some defect in their house and used to give them "Kasturi" (deer musk) and some yantra. The police want to investigate from where did he procure the deer musk and also want to find out if he has committed some illegal activities on the pretext of his claims of divine powers and religious rituals.According to the prosecution, many witnesses who do not want to reveal their identity have said that Kharat used to call people to the temple, run by a trust headed by him, at night and show them "snakes and tigers" and extort huge amount of money by threatening them that ill fate would fall upon them if they did not follow his instructions. The investigating team also wants to find out from where he obtained these animals.After the first FIR, five more cases have been registered against Kharat.