Archive · 19 Jul 2026
ED Files Charge Sheet Against Ashok Kharat
The ED has filed a charge sheet against a self-proclaimed 'godman' named Ashok Kharat, his wife, and four others.
They are accused of running an extortion racket disguised as spiritual practices.
The ED has seized assets worth Rs 36.90 crore.
Kharat was arrested on May 19 and is currently in judicial custody.
The investigation found that Kharat tricked people into giving him money and properties by claiming to have divine powers.
He then laundered this money through various accounts and invested it in properties across several cities.
His wife and associates helped him by opening benami accounts and facilitating transactions.
The ED filed a charge sheet against Ashok Kharat, his wife, and four others for money laundering and extortion.
Assets worth Rs 36.90 crore have been seized, attached, or frozen.
Kharat was arrested on May 19 and is in judicial custody.
Properties worth Rs 19.20 crore were provisionally attached on July 15.
Kharat exploited devotees' religious faith to extort money and laundered the proceeds through various accounts and properties.
- Who
- Ashokkumar Eknath Kharat, his wife Kalpana Kharat, Arvind Pandurang Bawake, Namkaran Yashwant Aware, Avinash Waman Kandekar, Milind Dadasaheb Bankar
- What
- Filing of a charge sheet for money laundering and extortion
- When
- Charge sheet filed on Saturday, May 19 arrest, July 15 property attachment
- Where
- Mumbai, with properties in Nashik, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Pune, and Mumbai
- Why
- For exploiting devotees' religious faith and laundering proceeds of crime
- Accused
- Ashokkumar Eknath Kharat, Kalpana Kharat, Arvind Pandurang Bawake, Namkaran Yashwant Aware, Avinash Waman Kandekar, Milind Dadasaheb Bankar
- Charges
- Money laundering and extortion
- Assets Seized
- Rs 36.90 crore
- Investigation Agency
- Directorate of Enforcement (ED)
- Court
- Special Court (PMLA), Mumbai
- Properties Attached
- Rs 19.20 crore
- Assets Seized/Frozen
- Rs 17.70 crore
- Cooperative Societies Involved
- Samata Nagari Sahakari Patsanstha, Jagdamba Mata Gramin Bigarsheti Sahakari Patsanstha Maryadit
