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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Bank accounts, realty deals under SIT lens

Mumbai: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing self-styled godman Ashok Kharat has widened its investigation, turning the spotlight on his financial empire with a detailed scrutiny of bank accounts held by him, his family and close associates. Investigators have so far identified five bank accounts linked to Kharat across major lenders: State Bank of India, Union Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Saraswat Bank and Vishwas Cooperative Bank. These accounts hold deposits totalling Rs 40.87 crore...

Bank accounts, realty deals under SIT lens

Mumbai: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing self-styled godman Ashok Kharat has widened its investigation, turning the spotlight on his financial empire with a detailed scrutiny of bank accounts held by him, his family and close associates. Investigators have so far identified five bank accounts linked to Kharat across major lenders: State Bank of India, Union Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Saraswat Bank and Vishwas Cooperative Bank. These accounts hold deposits totalling Rs 40.87 crore and are now under the scanner to trace sources, transaction trails and possible beneficiaries. Sleuths suspect that the accounts may reveal financial links to a web of property deals, investments and other transactions — both legitimate and dubious — and the SIT is now examining possible offences such as tax evasion and money laundering. Earlier this week, the SIT informed a Nashik court that raids carried out at Kharat’s office, farmhouse and other premises led to the seizure of Rs 6.53 lakh in cash, two laptops, multiple mobile phones, a DVR system, hidden cameras, and gold ornaments — 20 tolas from his wife and 12 tolas in his name. Simultaneously, Kharat’s chartered accountants, Prashant Palde and Kiran Kataria, told investigators that the accused had travelled extensively abroad in recent years, visiting countries including the United States, France, Australia, UAE, Peru, Malaysia, Indonesia and more. The SIT has also approached the Inspector General of Stamps, Pune, to help detect additional properties linked to Kharat and his network. Realty Investments So far, the investigators have uncovered a sprawling portfolio of realty investments comprising agriculture, commercial, bungalows, flats, etc., spread in Nashik, Pune, Ahilyanagar and even Raigad, standing in the names of Kharat or his family or certain business associates. They include: 33 acres of land and a farmhouse (Mirgaon); 10 acres of land (Pathardi village); 6 acres (Sinnar); 4.5 acres in own name and 5.5 acres (Shirdi and Kakadi); an 800-sq.ft flat and a bungalow in Karmayogi Nagar (Nashik); plots totalling 12 gunthas (around 12,000 feet in Ojhar); 6 gunthas (Adgaon, Nashik); 11 gunthas in daughter Shrusti’s name and a plot (Sangamner and Pune); a 180 sq.ft office at Canada Corner (Nashik); a marriage hall in partnership with others (Shirdi); 6 acres as a joint partner with five others (Sinnar). Public Prosecutor Ajay Missar told the court that the SIT is probing whether more undisclosed assets exist, while also examining if questionable transactions led to losses to the public exchequer. Authorities are coordinating with the Income Tax Department as part of the financial probe. One transaction under the radar involves a two-hectare agricultural plot in Mirgaon, donated to Kharat’s Shri Shivnika Sansthan Trust by a Mumbai-based devotee. The land was reportedly purchased in May 2019 for Rs 24 lakh and transferred to the trust almost immediately through a gift deed. However, the same gift deed document pegged the land’s market value at Rs 32 lakh — a shocking jump of Rs 8 lakh within hours — raising red flags over possible irregularities or manipulation in valuation, with likely connivance of officials. The Shri Ishaneshwar Temple on the land was constructed in 2009–2010, allegedly using public contributions, as claimed by several political leaders.   Fear of ‘Elimination’ Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve has raised concerns, alleging that those exposed in the recovered videos could attempt to eliminate the godman — currently in police custody. Danve claimed that as more explicit material surfaces, individuals implicated in the videos may ‘join hands to silence him through an extra-judicial killing to prevent further revelations.’

"Justice will be delivered"

Updated: Mar 21, 2025

Disha

Mumbai: As the Disha Salian death case rocked the Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday, Nitesh Rane, Minister for Fisheries and Ports, who has been keenly following the case since June 2020, tells ‘The Perfect Voice’ that he has enough evidence to show that Disha was raped and murdered.


You’ve been speaking about this case since her death in June 2020. Who all do you think are involved?

June 8 and June 13 were related. To cover up what happened on June 8, June 13 occurred. I have been speaking about it since June 2020 because I know it wasn’t a suicide or accidental death but it was a murder. We have enough evidence to show that Disha Salian was raped and murdered.


What is the incriminating evidence that you have?

There are mobile tower records which show that Disha, Aditya Thackeray, and a Zomato delivery person’s phones were at the same location in Malad. The Zomato delivery person has also given his statement in this regard.


How was an alleged murder brushed off as a suicide?

The post mortem report was modified and tampered with. I have the original post mortem report which I procured from the municipal hospital where the post mortem was done. But these original reports were never made public. It shows that Disha was gang raped and murdered because the report shows injury marks around her private parts. There are many loopholes in their theory- if someone falls from the 14th floor, there are bound to be injuries on the face but the photographs we saw yesterday show no marks on her face. The post mortem reports that were released say that there were injuries on her face but look at the recent photos. Where are the marks? How is that even possible?


You have made a connection between Aditya Thackeray, Dino Morea and Sooraj Pancholi. What is the connection?

They are all friends who were partying during the Covid lockdown when everyone was staying home.


Most people are questioning the timing of Disha Salian’s father’s petition in the court. Why now after almost five years?

Her father stated that he was until now brainwashed into believing it was a suicide. But now he wants justice for his deceased daughter. Why question the timing? A father wants justice so he has approached the High Court. The police will act on court orders. It will come up for hearing on the High Court on Monday or Tuesday next week. Our assembly colleagues have come together to say that we should follow the Supreme Court’s judgement—that if a person is accused of rape, he should first be arrested. In the Assembly, we have only made this demand that the Supreme Court’s judgement should be followed.


“The original post mortem report states that Disha Salian was gangraped and murdered.”


“We have to protect our sisters in this state.”


“Our demand is that the Supreme Court judgement should be followed and a rape accused must first be arrested.”

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