3 weeks ago
ED Complaint Links Temple Trust To Chakankar Family KYC Misuse
The Enforcement Directorate is a special police team in India that investigates money crimes.
They wrote a report about a man named Ashok Kharat, who is called a godman by his followers.
The report is about a family called the Chakankars and how they became his followers.
Tanmay Chakankar met him in 2022 at a temple called Ishaneshwar Temple.
Tanmay's aunt, Rupali Chakankar, was a trustee of the trust that manages that temple.
Tanmay's mother, Pratibha, says she gave her documents to plan a holy trip.
She says the godman used those documents to open bank accounts without asking her.
The family says they never opened or used those accounts.
The bank records show about 26 lakh rupees of money going in and out.
The police are still investigating and plan to share more information later.
The ED's prosecution complaint alleges the Chakankar family began following self-styled godman Ashok Kharat after his aunt Rupali Chakankar became a trustee of Shri Shivnika Sansthan, the trust managing Ishaneshwar Temple at Mirgaon.
Tanmay Chakankar told investigators he first met Kharat during Mahashivratri in 2022 and donated Rs 1 lakh to the trust in 2023 to sponsor an Annadan programme on Guru Purnima.
Pratibha Ganesh Chakankar alleged Kharat obtained her KYC documents under the pretext of arranging pilgrimage bookings and misused them to open bogus bank accounts in her and her son's names with Samta Nagari Sahakari Patsanstha Ltd.'s Rahata branch.
She said she first learned of the alleged accounts on April 13 when summoned to Shirdi Police Station, and that account-opening forms bore forged signatures, while the family denied operating accounts showing transactions of around Rs 26 lakh.
Rupali Chakankar's own statement is not part of the current complaint and is expected to be included in a supplementary prosecution complaint at a later stage.
Kharat's daughter Shrushti Kharat is said to have stayed at Tanmay's Pune residence for about a month while studying, and Tanmay last met Kharat at his daughter Triptabala Kharat's wedding in January 2026.
- Who
- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed the money laundering complaint against self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, based on statements from Tanmay Chakankar and his mother Pratibha Ganesh Chakankar, relatives of NCP leader Rupali Chakankar.
- What
- A PMLA prosecution complaint alleging that KYC documents were misused to open and operate bogus bank accounts linked to Kharat without the family's knowledge or consent.
- Where
- Mumbai, involving Ishaneshwar Temple at Mirgaon, a Pune residence, Shirdi Police Station, and Samta Nagari Sahakari Patsanstha Ltd.'s Rahata branch.
- When
- The complaint was published around August 6, 2026; Pratibha said she first learned of the alleged bogus accounts on April 13 after being summoned to Shirdi Police Station.
- Why
- The ED alleges Kharat obtained KYC documents under the pretext of arranging pilgrimage bookings and misused them to open accounts operated through a mobile number allegedly used by him.
ED / Prosecution View
Chakankar Family View
Operation of the bank accounts
ED / Prosecution View
The ED confronted the family with bank statements showing cash deposits, creation of fixed deposits, premature encashment and withdrawals of around Rs 26 lakh, and alleged the accounts were linked to and operated through a mobile number used by Kharat.
Chakankar Family View
Both Pratibha and Tanmay Chakankar denied operating the accounts, said they could not explain the transactions, and claimed the accounts were opened and operated without their knowledge using forged KYC documents and signatures.
Knowledge of the KYC documents
ED / Prosecution View
Pratibha acknowledged that the Aadhaar card attached to the account documents belonged to her, which the investigation points to as a link to the family.
Chakankar Family View
Pratibha maintained that neither she nor her son had visited the cooperative credit society or authorised the opening of any account, and that the signatures on the forms were forged.
Key facts
- Investigating Agency
- Enforcement Directorate (ED)
- Accused
- Ashok Kharat, self-styled godman (referred to as Bhondu Baba in the article title)
- Legal Framework
- Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), statements recorded under Section 50
- Core Allegation
- Misuse of KYC documents to open bogus savings and special savings bank accounts
- Amount Involved
- Around Rs 26 lakh in cash deposits, fixed deposits, premature encashment and withdrawals
- Bank Involved
- Samta Nagari Sahakari Patsanstha Ltd., Rahata branch
- Key Witnesses
- Tanmay Chakankar and Pratibha Ganesh Chakankar
- Pending Development
- Rupali Chakankar's statement expected in a supplementary prosecution complaint
Sources
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