Need time to get clone copy of Kharat’s seized phone analysed by experts in his presence: SIT tells court

Nashik: The court of additional chief judicial magistrate MV Bharade on Sunday extended astrologer Ashok Kharat's remand in police custody till April 1 in a rape case after the investigating officer cited an ongoing probe and the need to get a clone copy of Kharat's seized phone analysed in his presence by digital experts.The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case has obtained a clone copy of Kharat's cellphone from the state forensic sciences laboratory.Assistant Public Prosecutor Shailendra Bagade told the court that Kharat has so far co-operated very little vis-à-vis details of several key aspects being probed by the SIT. He said there was quite a possibility that Kharat may have saved the cellphone numbers of his important contacts in some other names, and hence the verification of cellphone data in his presence was necessary. Bagdae also told the court that investigators were establishing all movable and immovable properties Kharat was suspected to have acquired either in his name or in the names of other individuals.Bagade submitted that the bogus astrologer gave some salty and bitter water to his victim to drink before he raped her. This water made her light-headed after which she got influenced by whatever he told her. Kharat would then put off the light and rape her. The SIT has to investigate from where the astrologer sourced the water and what he mixed in it. So far Kharat has not said anything about this to the investigators.The probe was also focused on identifying any other individual who may have assisted Kharat in the latter's alleged crimes.Meanwhile, senior SIT officials remained tightlipped about reports in a section of media that former chairperson of state commission for women, Rupali Chakankar, had been summoned for questioning in relation to the Shri Shivanika Sansthan Trust, a charitable organisation founded by Kharat. Chakankar was associated with the organisation as a trustee. "There is nothing we have to say about such reports," a senior SIT officer told TOI.