Mumbai, March 27 The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating self-proclaimed godman Ashok Kharat, who is accused of rape, has received more than 50 calls in the last five days reporting crimes allegedly committed by him or providing related information, officials said on Friday.
Kharat, accused of sexually exploiting several women over the years, underwent an HIV test, and the results were negative, they said.
The SIT has published two mobile phone numbers for those who want to share information about Kharat's activities and alleged crimes.
The police have so far registered eight FIRs against him after receiving multiple complaints involving allegations of sexual assault, extortion, and the circulation of objectionable material.
Kharat, who headed a temple trust at Mirgaon in Sinnar tehsil of Nashik district and was visited by several prominent political leaders, was arrested on March 18 after a 35-year-old woman accused him of repeated rape over a period of three years.
A senior official said that since the publication of mobile numbers, the investigation team has received 15 to 20 phone calls daily.
Of the calls received in the last five days, more than 50 were about complaints against Kharat, he said, adding that the SIT is verifying the complaints.
The identities of those providing information will remain confidential, he said.
The SIT visited Kharat's office in Nashik on Friday, accompanied by a forensic science team. Several documents, files, and other evidence were recovered from the place.
Notably, a 20-foot remote-controlled mechanized snake has also been seized from his office, police sources said. Kharat allegedly used the snake to make his visitors believe that he could control a live snake and thus possessed supernatural powers.
The Nashik district administration has, meanwhile, suspended his arms license, citing the multiple criminal cases registered against him.
Kharat had obtained a revolver license on October 15, 2012, and renewed it on January 1, 2024.