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Astrologer Held for Land Fraud & Black Magic
31 May
Summary
- Astrologer Ashok Kharat is in police custody for land fraud.
- He allegedly swindled 16.5 acres of land between 2003 and 2004.
- This is his second arrest, following a cooperative society fraud case.
Sinnar police have taken astrologer Ashok Kharat into custody for a second case involving alleged cheating and violations of the Black Magic Act. A Sinnar court remanded him to three-day police custody until Monday. Kharat's wife, Kalpana, remains at large since the FIR was filed on April 8, 2026.
The latest complaint, filed on April 8, 2026, alleges that Kharat, his wife, and associates fraudulently obtained 16.5 acres of land between November 2003 and February 2004. They purportedly registered the land in the names of Kharat's family members.
This action follows Kharat's earlier arrest on May 12, 2026, in connection with a cooperative credit society fraud case. After his initial police custody, he was moved to judicial custody before being re-arrested for the current charges.
The complainant, a grocery shop owner, stated that his family bought the land for ₹15 lakh in 1997. In 2003, they agreed to sell it for ₹3.5 lakh to Kharat, who presented himself as a property dealer and astrologer. Kharat allegedly convinced them the land had a "bad omen" and was needed for a temple, but failed to pay the agreed amount.
The complainant delayed reporting due to fear of Kharat's alleged "divine powers." He came forward after learning of Kharat's previous arrests in Nashik for serious charges including rape, fraud, and black magic. Further investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the fraud.
