Mumbai, April 2 Self-proclaimed godman Ashok Kharat, who is facing rape charges, opened more than 130 accounts in two cooperative credit societies in Maharashtra under different names and conducted transactions exceeding Rs 62.74 crore in the last couple of years, a police official said on Thursday.
According to sources, one of the accounts was opened in the name of the sister of former Maharashtra State Women's Commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar, who resigned from the post last month after her alleged links with Kharat came to light following his arrest on rape charges in Nashik.
These details emerged during an investigation being conducted by the police in the Ahilyanagar district in a cheating case registered against Kharat, his wife Kalpana, and three others. The case involves the Kharat couple, residents of Nashik district, allegedly trying to acquire four acres of land in the temple town of Shirdi by giving its owner a loan of Rs 5.52 crore.
The Shirdi police have arrested two middlemen in the case and are looking for Kalpana and one more person.
To prevent Kalpana from fleeing the country, the police have issued a Lookout Notice (LOC) against her, said Somnath Gharge, Superintendent of Police (SP), Ahilyanagar.
Immigration officials at designated airports, seaports, and land borders have been alerted about the case, he said.
While investigating the cheating case registered in Shirdi, the police found that Kharat had opened more than 130 accounts at two cooperative credit societies (financial entities providing loans, savings, and banking services) in the name of different people in Ahilyanagar district, Gharge informed.
All these accounts had recorded heavy transaction volumes in the last couple of years. In one of the credit societies, there were transactions of over Rs 60 crore, and in the other, the police have so far found transactions of more than Rs 2.74 crore, according to the SP.
The nominees for all the accounts were Kharat, a former merchant navy officer, and his mobile number was provided as a contact for each of them, Gharge stated.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Kharat, who also claimed to be an astrologer, was operating all these accounts and depositing money, which he received from people visiting him for consultations, another official said.
In light of these revelations, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which probes money laundering cases, is likely to enter the inquiry scene, the second official said.
At least 10 FIRs – eight for alleged sexual assault or exploitation of women, and two for cheating – have been registered against Kharat, who is being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the state government.
The rape accused "godman" is in the SIT custody until April 8.