Maharashtra: Akola ASI suspended for allegedly demanding sexual favors from detainee’s daughter

A 54yearold assistant subinspector has been suspended after he allegedly asked a woman detainee to send her daughter to him for sexual favours in Maharashtrarsquos Akola district police said on WednesdayThe woman had been apprehended in connection with a financial fraud case involving Rs 80 lakh and was being held at the Civil Lines Police Station lockupOn Tuesday Assistant SubInspector Rajesh Jadhav who was on duty allegedly misused his position to lure the woman with offers of money and demanded that she send her daughter to him for sexual favours police inspector Anil Jumle saidThe woman then approached senior police officials with a complaint A video later surfaced on social media showing senior officers confronting and reprimanding the ASIDistrict Superintendent of Police Archit Chandak suspended the ASI with immediate effect on Tuesday the official saidA case has been registered against the accused on charges of outraging a womanrsquos modesty and under other relevant legal provisions he addedRapeaccused godman Ashok Kharat sent to judicial custody till April 14A court in Maharashtrarsquos Nashik has remanded selfstyled godman Ashok Kharat to 14day judicial custody in connection with multiple sexual assault allegations officials said on Wednesday reported news agency PTICourt Orders Judicial Custody After Police Remand EndsKharat was produced before the court after the end of his police custody on Wednesday The Special Investigation Team SIT which is probing the case sought judicial custody during the hearing reported PTISessions judge B N Ichpurani subsequently ordered that Kharat be sent to judicial custody till April 14 He will be lodged at Nashik Road Central Jail reported PTIArrest Followed Multiple AllegationsKharat was arrested on March 18 after a 35yearold woman accused him of repeatedly raping her over a period of three years Following his arrest several more complaints of a similar nature surfacedAuthorities have registered at least 10 FIRs against him at Sarkarwada police station including eight related to alleged sexual assault or exploitation and two for cheating reported PTISIT Probe Expands as Complaints RiseThe SIT has been actively investigating the case and has reportedly received over 100 complaints via phone indicating a wider pattern of alleged misconductOfficials said the probe is ongoing with investigators examining evidence and statements from multiple complainantsFamily Members Under ScannerOn Wednesday the SIT detained Kharatrsquos son Harshvardhan for questioning from their residence in Karmayogi Nagar He was later released the same day reported PTIInvestigators are also attempting to trace Kharatrsquos wife Kalpana who has been named in a cheating case registered in Ahilyanagar district reported PTIEvidence Seized from PremisesLast week the SIT conducted a search operation at Kharatrsquos office in Nashik along with a forensic science team During the raid officials recovered documents files and other materials relevant to the investigationAmong the items seized was a 20foot remotecontrolled mechanised snake which Kharat allegedly used to create an illusion of possessing supernatural powersGodmanrsquos Influence Under ScrutinyKharat who heads a temple trust in Sinnar had reportedly built a following over the years with several political figures visiting him in the pastAs the investigation continues authorities are expected to further examine the extent of the allegations and identify any additional victims or associates linked to the caseWith inputs from PTI