India's ED charges self‑styled godman Ashok Kharat, seizes ₹36.9 crore assets

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Mumbai filed a money‑laundering charge sheet before a special PMLA court against self‑proclaimed “godman” Ashokkumar Eknath Kharat, his wife Kalpana Kharat, and four others. The agency alleges Kharat masqueraded as an incarnation of Lord Shiva, exploited devotees through “Avatar Poojas”, and generated proceeds of crime via extortion, cheating and criminal intimidation.

Investigators say Kharat laundered the illicit proceeds through two cooperative credit societies, multiple benami accounts and large cash deposits, then invested the money in immovable properties across Nashik, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Pune and Mumbai. The ED has attached, seized or frozen assets worth ₹36.90 crore, including a provisional attachment of properties valued at ₹19.20 crore and earlier seizures of ₹17.70 crore. Kharat remains in judicial custody after his May 19 arrest.