Godman Ashokkumar Kharat being produced at the District and Sessions Court, Nashik. He has since been accused of sexually assaulting several women and cheating them by claiming to have supernatural powers. | Photo Credit: Mayur Bargaje It is 11 a.m. One room in the Nashik District Sessions Court is abuzz with the kind of activity only a politically-sensitive case brings. There is police bandobast, barricades across the entrance, cameras and booms from TV channels primed. The godman Ashokkumar Kharat is brought out, a black cloth on his head. The proceedings are swift. He is granted judicial custody. The next day, in courtroom number 2, he is produced via videoconferencing. His hands clasped in front of his white shirt, his handlebar moustache neat. The prosecution, led by Shailendra Bagade and Kiran Bendbhar, calls him a “sexual pervert”, stating he has raped and then forced a survivor into getting an abortion. “We pray for maximum police custody,” the prosecution asks. Published – April 26, 2026 05:46 am IST Share this: Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Like this:Like Loading... Post navigation The Hindu Morning Digest: April 26, 2026 Trump evacuated after shots were fired at White House correspondents’ dinner