Nashik Astrologer Faces Eighth FIR in Multi-Crore Fraud Case Involving Death Threats and Black Magic
The Sarkarwada Police in Nashik have registered an eighth First Information Report (FIR) against arrested astrologer Ashok Kharat. This latest complaint comes from a Pune-based businessman who alleges that Kharat defrauded him of nearly Rs 5 crore through a sinister combination of death threats and black magic over a period of seven years.
Businessman Details Years of Extortion and Manipulation
Rajendra Ashok Jasud, a 51-year-old construction and logistics businessman from Hadapsar in Pune, filed the complaint. He stated that he first met Kharat in June 2018 through a mutual friend, seeking blessings for a new global logistics venture. According to the FIR, Kharat convinced Jasud that he possessed divine powers and that serving him would unlock immense business opportunities.
Jasud alleged that Kharat used fear tactics, including threats of death and black magic, to extort money, vehicles, and luxury furniture. During a visit to the Ishanyeshwar temple founded by Kharat in Mirgaon, Sinnar tehsil of Nashik district, the astrologer performed a snake-trick using plastic snakes. He told Jasud that 'Nag Devata' demanded Kharat's travel to 21 countries to gain power and ensure the complainant's success.
Forced Funding of International Trips and Luxury Purchases
Between 2018 and 2024, Kharat allegedly forced Jasud to fund trips to multiple countries, including Myanmar, Greenland, the USA, Egypt, and Bangladesh. These demands were made under the constant threat of lethal black magic, as per the FIR.
Jasud further claimed he was pressured into paying for the construction of Kharat's farmhouse and purchasing high-end furniture from Turkey and Pune. The total cost for construction and furnishing alone exceeded Rs 2 crore. Additionally, in 2019, Kharat compelled Jasud to take him to the USA for medical treatment, incurring costs of Rs 30 lakh.
Escalating Demands and Threats
Kharat insisted that an 'Uttar Puja' ritual was necessary for Jasud's business success. He demanded a luxury Mercedes-Benz car to start the ritual, warning that failure would lead to Jasud's immediate death. Fearing for his life, Jasud complied with this demand in 2023.
When Jasud grew suspicious and demanded his money back, Kharat allegedly threatened to eliminate Jasud's family, escalating the intimidation.
Legal Charges Under BNS and Black Magic Act
The Sarkarwada police have booked Ashok Kharat under sections 308(2), 308(5), 127(2), 351(2), and 351(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). They have also invoked relevant sections of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.
This case highlights a pattern of alleged exploitation using supernatural fears, with the eighth FIR adding to the serious legal troubles faced by the astrologer. Authorities continue to investigate the full extent of the fraud and its impact on multiple victims.
