Kharat remanded in judicial custody in third case, to be arrested in fourth case of sexual assault and black magic

Nashik: The court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate S B Hiwale in Nashik on Monday remanded astrologer Ashok Kharat to seven days' judicial custody in connection with the sexual assault and black magic case registered against him with the Sarkarwada police station on March 21.On the request of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating a string of cases registered against him, the magisterial court remanded him in judicial custody till April 20.APP Shailendra Bagade told the court that the SIT had made significant progress in the third case during the five-day police the SIT had got on April 9. The investigating team has seized some pen drives which have been sent to the forensic department for further analysis.The SIT requested the court to grant permission for his custody in another case regarding which an FIR has been registered under sections 64 (1) (rape), 64(2)(M) (repeated rape on same woman), 75(2) (sexual harassment), 79 (insulting modesty of woman), 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the BNS and section 3(2) of Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act with the Sarkarwada police station on March 23.APP Bagade said that on Tuesday the SIT will arrest Kharat in the fourth case and produce him before the court to request his custodial remand.A total 13 cases have been registered against Nashik astrologer Ashok Kharat in Nashik city.SIT is investigating 11 cases out of which eight are related to sexual exploitation of women. The remaining four involve offences under Black Magic Act, cheating, money lending and economic crimes.