Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday issued a summons to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rupali Chakankar in connection with the alleged rape and financial irregularities case involving self-proclaimed godman Ashok Kharat also known as ‘Bhondu Baba’.According to officials, Chakankar has been asked to appear before the agency later this week for questioning as part of the ongoing money laundering investigation linked to the case. The ED had earlier also questioned her sister in connection with the same probe.The case stems from allegations against Kharat, who has been arrested by Nashik Police and is currently in judicial custody. A Nashik court has remanded him to custody till April 20, 2026, in the rape and extortion case, officials said.Advocate Shailendra Bagde, speaking to news agency ANI, said this is the third offence registered against the accused. He noted that Kharat was earlier in police custody for five days and has now been sent to judicial custody after the expiry of the police remand period. He is scheduled to be produced before the court again for further custody proceedings.Meanwhile, the ED has been conducting searches under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with allegations of extortion, religious manipulation and drug-facilitated sexual assault involving victims, including women.The case was originally registered at Sarkarwada Police Station in Nashik.According to the ED, preliminary findings suggest that Kharat allegedly operated multiple bank accounts in the names of third parties through Nashik-based cooperative credit societies, while retaining control over them as nominee and using his registered mobile number. The agency has described these as “bogus accounts” allegedly used to route illicit funds.Police also allege that Kharat sold ordinary items by falsely projecting them as spiritually “blessed” objects with healing powers, defrauding victims and collecting large sums of money. These funds were allegedly laundered and invested in land parcels through intermediaries, including a chartered accountant and members of his family, the ED said.The accused, who also serves as chairman of the Shri Ishanyeshwar Temple Trust in Sinnar, is alleged to have sexually assaulted a 35-year-old woman repeatedly over several years under the guise of spiritual guidance. Police said the abuse continued between 2022 and December 2025, with intimidation used to silence the survivor.(With ANI inputs)
