Court denies police custody of Kharat, remands him to judicial custody

Nashik: A local court on Thursday remanded 67-year-old Ashok Kharat to judicial custody, instead of police custody, after he was presented before the court by the Sakarwada police in connection with an FIR registered with them in a case of molestation and sexual harassment.Chief judicial magistrate B N Ichpurani passed the order after hearing submissions from both sides. The police had sought a three-day remand, citing the need for deeper investigation, but the court denied the plea and sent the accused to judicial custody.The case has been registered under BNS sections 74, 75 and 351(2), along with provisions of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, based on a complaint filed by a woman."As the investigations into the case are in the primary stage, and the police want to carry out in-depth investigations into the issue, they requested a three-day remand to facilitate a deeper probe into the case. But the court remanded him to judicial custody," said assistant public prosecutor Shailendra Bagade.The accused was produced before the court virtually.According to the police, the alleged incident took place between Oct 7 and 12, 2024, at Kharat's office — Okas Properties at Canada Corner. The complainant and her husband, who had known the accused for several years, had visited him at the office.The police said Kharat allegedly asked the husband to step outside and, while alone with the woman, performed a ritual using a smooth black stone. During the act, he allegedly touched her inappropriately while chanting mantras, claiming he was "purifying" her and that his "divine power" would bring her prosperity. He allegedly warned her against disclosing the incident, threatening divine consequences.Defence counsel Sachin Baste opposed the police remand, arguing that the grounds cited had already been examined during an earlier custody. "It seems the court was satisfied considering the facts that there were no grounds to remand Kharat to police custody again," said Bhate.