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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Human sacrifices suspected; five bullets missing

Mumbai: In a high-voltage courtroom packed with tension, the Nashik Sessions Court extended the police custody of fake godman Ashokkumar Eknath Kharat till March 29, as investigators sought time to probe shocking leads pointing at suspected human sacrifices and huge wealth besides the alleged sexual exploitation crimes.   In a startling revelation, the police said that they recovered a black revolver with 21 bullets from his Mirgaon farmhouse, but five shells are missing. The Public...

Human sacrifices suspected; five bullets missing

Mumbai: In a high-voltage courtroom packed with tension, the Nashik Sessions Court extended the police custody of fake godman Ashokkumar Eknath Kharat till March 29, as investigators sought time to probe shocking leads pointing at suspected human sacrifices and huge wealth besides the alleged sexual exploitation crimes.   In a startling revelation, the police said that they recovered a black revolver with 21 bullets from his Mirgaon farmhouse, but five shells are missing. The Public Prosecutor Ajay Missar said that this, coupled with other circumstantial evidence has raised suspicions of possible human sacrifice, though it has yet to be confirmed.   Kharat, 67, his face covered in a black cloth, was produced before the court at 3:50 pm, when the courtroom was crowded with lawyers, activists and commoners, while firebrand women’s leader Trupti Desai staged a noisy protest outside.   The Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made a statement in the Assembly on the Bhondu baba scam that has rocked the state polity for the past week with sensational details emerging daily in the investigations.   Sedative Substances In Nashik, seeking extension of Kharat’s custody, the SIT IO Kiran K. Suryanshi informed the court details of the probe so far. He said that Kharat’s victims were given pedhas, crystal sugar and water after which they experienced nausea, pointing to sedative-laced substances which need to be traced.   The police also seized Rs. 6.53 lakhs in cash, two laptops and a DVR, the mobile phones of the accused and his associates are being investigated to determine the number of targeted victims, and the financial trail of his dealings of the globe-trotting Kharat, who is facing a total of 8 cases, including 6 lodged by his victims in different police stations.   Snakes’ Use The prosecution said that the SIT wants to probe allegations that Kharat used cobras, snakes and tigers to proclaim himself as a ‘Siddha Purush’ with supernatural powers during his rituals. A pen drive with videos of his victims also needs to be probed and confirmed, besides recovering deleted data from his mobile phone and other devices through Forensic experts.   The sleuths have to dig out if these creatures were real or dummies, and whether wildlife laws are violated. He allegedly distributed the rare musk (Kasturi) suggesting illegal exploitation of the wildlife for his illicit activities, and details of his associates and accomplices in these crimes.   Opposing the plea for further custody, Kharat’s lawyer said that the investigation has already run for seven days, the police have recovered videos, electronic devices, cash and weapon, no additional evidence including a purported pen drive are officially recorded, and hence the probe can continue without his further police remand.   During the proceedings, Kharat was seen standing with his head bowed, staring at his hands, without displaying emotions or making eye contact with anybody.   When the court asked him for his version, he merely said: “I have no knowledge of snakes or tigers, hearing it for the first time. I only visited the temple occasionally during festivals when there were around a 100 people present. I have answered all the questions during the interrogation.”   After hearing both sides, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Patil granted extension of Kharat’s custody by five more days till March 29, to enable the SIT probe the remaining angles.   Cops bar media Considering the sensitivity of the sensational case, through Sahyog portal, the SIT has approached social Media like Instagram, YouTube or Facebook to delete or strike down photos/videos that could violate the privacy of Kharat’s victims. Television channels which telecast such videos have been slapped with notices of warning proceedings under the BNSS Act, Sec. 72(1), after which several news outlets have complied. Kharat is facing a total eight cases, including five from the victims comprising those in some alleged videos that went viral, one through a victim’s relative and 2 other related matters, which the STI is probing from multiple angles.

Knives out in legislature

Updated: Mar 21, 2025

Disha Salian

Mumbai: Death of celebrity manager Disha Salian in 2020 once again rocked the Maharashtra legislature on Thursday. While cabinet ministers Nitesh Rane and Shambhuraj Desai demanded that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray be arrested in the case, BJP MLA Amit Satam in the assembly and another BJP member Chitra Wagh in the council demanded that the report of SIT to probe Salian’s death be made public.


Incidentally, amidst repeated disruptions in both the houses, some members from the treasury benches were seen speaking in favour of Aditya Thackeray, while Shiv Sena (UBT) members like Adv Anil Parab were seen supporting the BJP members’ demand that the report of the SIT probe be made public. In addition, there were allegations and counter allegations and personal accusations among members from the treasury and opposition benches which led to heated debate on occasions.


The opposition termed the attempts from the treasury benches to link Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray’s name in the case, as a ‘conspiracy’.


“I think this matter has gone to the court. We have no idea what he (Disha’s father) has said, but Aaditya Thackeray is a mature leader, a young leader. The Bharatiya Janata Party is conspiring to defame him by putting pressure on him. We don’t need to answer to this conspiracy. The court will answer,” Ambadas Danve said.


Earlier in the day, when the house gathered for the business, Minister of State for Home appraised the assembly of the status in this case. “SIT has been formed to probe in the case. Their report has not been received as yet. However, the government shall act according to directives from the court,” the minister told the house.


Another BJP minister Nitesh Rane, however, said that since Satish Salian has levelled allegations against an MVA minister, that leader be treated like a common person and that everybody should be treated equally before the law. Shiv Sena minister Shambhuraj Desai too supported the demand. “Since the allegations are grave, the person in question should be immediately arrested and the case be investigated,” he said.


Later, while speaking to media in the legislature premises, Rane asked Uddhav Thackeray to come clean on the issue. “If they say that we are politicizing the issue, Uddhav Thackeray should also tell the people why he had called, not just once but twice, to the then union minister Narayan Rane urging him to save his son?” Rane said.


He also accused the opposition of shying away from coming clean on the issue. “If they feel that we are not telling the truth, they should say so in the house. But they are shying away from doing so. Bhaskar Jadhav, who is always aggressive, was nowhere to be seen when this issue came up in the house. Sunil Prabhu too escaped the house under the pretext of a phone call. I challenge them to say that whatever I said on the issue is wrong,” Rane said.


He also said that Aditya Thackeray should resign on moral grounds till his name is cleared in the case.


BJP MLA Amit Satam demanded that the details of the SIT probe be made public so that the people would know if the probe is headed in right direction.


Interestingly, while the ruling parties were targeting the opposition in the case, senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar surprised all with his unexpected support to Thackerays. “I do not have any evidences in the case. But if her father has made any fresh allegations that needs to be investigated thoroughly. The assembly can discuss the issue at length tomorrow. In the meanwhile, members like Rane, who seem to have some evidences in the case should hand them over to the investigating agencies and help the probe,” he told the house.


Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Gaikwad and Sheetal Mhatre too toed the line and demanded that more and more evidences should come forth.


Similarly, when members of treasury benches were pushing for revealing the details of the probe till date to the public, Shiv Sena (UBT) member Anil Parab supported the demand. “Doing that shall conclusively prove the innocence of Aditya Thackeray,” he said.

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