The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday opened one of the attached bank lockers held by Ashok Kharat and his wife, Kalpana Kharat, at Vishwas Cooperative Bank Ltd in Nashik. The agency seized gold jewellery worth Rs 1.1 crore, $5,500, and other valuables from the locker.
Investigation into Assets
The ED is examining Kharat's assets and the sources used to acquire them. In previous searches, the agency had attached several bank accounts and lockers linked to Kharat and his associates for further examination.
Allegations and Arrest
Kharat was recently arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting women on the pretext of possessing divine powers and cheating people. The ED is investigating a money laundering case against him.
ED sources said Ashok Kharat had opened multiple bank accounts with two cooperative credit societies in Nashik in the names of different third parties, while he remained the nominee in all of them.
The agency continues to probe the financial transactions and assets linked to Kharat to trace the proceeds of crime. Further action is expected as the investigation progresses.
