Nashik Astrologer and Associates Face New Charges in Land Fraud Scandal
The Sinnar police in Nashik have taken decisive action by filing a formal case of cheating and violations under the stringent Black Magic Act against astrologer Ashok Kharat, his wife Kalpana, and three unidentified associates. This legal move follows a detailed complaint lodged by Shivram Mali, a 53-year-old grocery shopowner from Kundewadi village in Sinnar taluka, on April 8. With this development, the total number of cases registered against Kharat has escalated to an alarming 13, highlighting a pattern of alleged fraudulent activities.
Details of the Land Dispute and Alleged Manipulation
According to the complaint, the core of the issue revolves around a 16.5-acre plot of land located in Mirgaon village. Shivram Mali alleges that Ashok Kharat fraudulently took control of this property in 2004 without providing any payment to the rightful owners. A significant portion of the Ishaneshwar Temple stands on this land, while Kharat's farmhouse has been constructed entirely on the property, as stated in the official complaint.
The police have registered the case under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to cheating, along with other relevant provisions. Additionally, sections of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act have been invoked, underscoring the serious nature of the accusations involving supernatural threats and intimidation.
Historical Background and Family's Ordeal
The complainant revealed that his family, including his three brothers and their father, jointly purchased the land in Mirgaon back in 1997 for a sum of Rs 15 lakh. The family cultivated the land for four to five years but later decided to sell it due to the logistical challenges of traveling between their native village, Kundewadi, and Mirgaon. In their search for a buyer, they approached Ashok Kharat, who was known as a property dealer at the time.
Kharat allegedly manipulated the family by claiming that the land carried a bad omen and that retaining it would invite misfortune upon them. He then expressed interest in purchasing the land under the pretext of constructing a temple, a move that seemed benevolent but later proved deceptive.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Fraud
In late 2003, Kharat and his associates visited the land and performed rituals, further reinforcing his supernatural narrative. He returned in January 2004 to confirm his intent to buy the property. By February 2004, the family was called to the Sinnar sub-registrar's office to finalize the sale.
Shivram Mali alleges that all necessary documents had been pre-prepared, and the family was pressured into signing them without full disclosure. It was only after the signing that they realized the land was valued at a mere Rs 3.86 lakh, drastically lower than the Rs 15 lakh they had originally paid seven years earlier. When confronted, Kharat reportedly dismissed their concerns, stating that nothing could be done since the deed was already signed.
Intimidation and Supernatural Threats
Mali further detailed how Kharat intimidated the family by claiming to possess divine powers and threatening them with black magic if they pursued the matter. When the complainant and his brothers later visited Kharat's office in Nashik to seek payment, they allegedly witnessed numerous followers seeking solutions to personal problems, which reinforced their belief in his purported supernatural influence. Despite repeated assurances from Kharat, the family claims they never received any payment for the land.
Delayed Police Complaint and Broader Context
Shivram Mali explained that he approached the police nearly 22 years after the incident, motivated by learning of Kharat's arrests in other land-grabbing and fraud cases. This delay underscores the fear and intimidation that victims often face in such situations, where alleged supernatural threats can silence complaints for decades.
The case highlights ongoing issues with land fraud and the exploitation of superstitious beliefs in the region. Authorities are now investigating the broader network of Kharat's associates to uncover the full extent of these alleged crimes.
