Follower-turned-whistleblower of arrested Nashik godman reveals shocking details

A devotee-turned-whistleblower in the high-profile Nashik godman case has blown the lid on the sexual offences of Ashok Kharat and how he saved the lives of scores of women who were allegedly hoodwinked by the 67-year-old godman.

Kharat is currently lodged in police custody in a rape and black magic case. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been probing allegations against him in the high-profile case that has caused ripples in Maharashtra politics. The SIT has been collecting evidence and recording witness statements. Outside the ambit of the police probe too, allegations have been levelled by political leaders and social activists against Kharat for his alleged contacts with top politicians and bureaucrats in the State.

Speaking exclusively to The Hindu, Jaywant Miske* says he was an ardent follower of the self-styled godman till a few years ago. He would diligently serve him, take care of his daily chores, and bow before him, says the soft-spoken man.

This subservient relationship went on till Kharat, he claims, allegedly sexually assaulted his then heavily pregnant wife a few years ago. Initial distrust towards his wife gave way to denial, but he took the call to keep tabs on the fake godman. Mr. Miske said he installed a hidden CCTV camera in Kharat’s office and recorded several videos of the conman’s transgressions. Mr. Miske says he had worked in one of Kharat’s offices for a few years, till he left the job after he got the recordings.

The follower recently turned a whistleblower as he gave the Nashik police a blow-by-blow account of the arrested conman’s deeds. The CCTV recordings are key evidence in the police investigation.

Mr. Miske says he has done a “pious job” by turning a whistleblower in the matter. “Hindu worshippers have been deceived. I have saved thousands of Hindu women and girls. Had I not blown the lid off this exploitation ring, he would have still been worshipped as God by all the followers. He would have destroyed many more families, many women,” he says, while claiming that Kharat had been involved in this racket since 1998.

Describing the ordeal his wife faced during her pregnancy, that changed his perspective towards the godman, Mr. Miske says: “The baba [as he referred to Kharat] told me that an auspicious puja needs to be done in the seventh month of pregnancy. He asked me to call my wife to office. When she came, both of us went inside his cabin. In some time, he sent me out. After a while, my wife came out looking pale. She did not say a word and went home. That night, she told me that the baba was a terrible person and that he had done wrong things to her.”

Thereafter, Mr. Miske started seeing Kharat in a different light, speaking to his client base, trying to understand in detail about his property dealings and financial holdings. He claims to have secretly installed the CCTV camera in Kharat’s cabin that recorded over 100 instances of sexual transgressions within a month. Mr. Miske says there are 156 videos that have been recorded. The police have not put a number on the seized videos, but have said that there are more than 100.

Speaking of his reaction after finding out the contents of the recordings, he says he was overcome with anger. “I wanted to kill him. I got agitated. My friends controlled me. They told me to act sensibly,” he adds.

“I had trusted him as much as I had trusted my own parents. He was like God for me. I thought our lives would transform after coming in touch with him. But he has scarred me. I am devastated physically and emotionally,” he says, while requesting the reporter to protect his identity in public.

Due to this saga, Mr. Miske says he has lost over 14 kg in the last two years. The frail-looking man says he failed to read the early signs of Kharat’s wrongdoings. While Kharat had registered a complaint of extortion against him, he has denied any involvement in it.

While registering the complaint against the godman, Mr. Miske says he was scared for his life. Even today, when he goes to the SIT, he worriedly asks the police officers if Kharat will come out of prison free. “Think of someone who has duped so many high-profile people. He was in direct touch with the ministers, officers, and businessmen. What will it take for him to get someone like me killed? When the SIT asks me questions, I ask them if he will be able to walk out of that prison. I am scared for my life. But this [revelation] had to be done,” he says, adding that he has been given police protection.

Police say that Mr. Miske’s complaint and testimony form an important part of the case. “While Kharat is the villian, Jaywant Miske is the hero who put his life at stake to turn into a complainant,” a police officer said on condition of anonymity. Due to social stigma and fear, many complainants have not come ahead to testify, the officer said, adding that the whistleblower’s courage will help the police reach other victims.

*(name changed to protect his identity)