Indian retired Merchant Navy officer held for raping woman in Nashik
Nashik: An Indian retired army officer raped a woman and was arrested in Maharashtra state.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Ashok Kumar Kharat, a retired Merchant Navy officer, who projected himself as an astrologer, was arrested in Maharashtra’s Nashik district for allegedly repeatedly raping a woman for over three years, police said.
The culprit, who is also the Chairman of Shree Ishaneshwar Mahadev Temple Trust at Mirgaon in Sinnar taluka of Nashik district, allegedly sexually assaulted the 35-year-old complainant between November 2022 and December 2025.
Citing the FIR, police said Kharat used to call the woman to his office located in the upscale Canada Corner area in Nashik, claiming his predictions pointed to “threats” to her husband’s life. He would allegedly offer her sedative-laced drinks and rape her.
Kharat also allegedly intimidated the woman using purported predictions and threats, they said.
Accused officer Ashok Kumar Kharat had several leaders from Maharashtra politics visit him over the years.
Altogether 58 videos, including some objectionable clips, stored on a pendrive, have been recovered from Ashok Kumar Kharat, who used to call himself “Captain”, police said.
As the Opposition targeted the BJP government over the case, Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam promised strict action and assured protection to women who might have complaints against Kharat.
Officials claimed Kharat has been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections concerning rape and criminal intimidation, as well as under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act.
