The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet against self-proclaimed ‘godman’ Ashokkumar Eknath Kharat, also known as Captain or Bondhu Baba, along with his wife and four others. They are accused of money-laundering related to an extortion racket disguised as spiritual activities. Assets totaling Rs 36.90 crore have been attached, seized, or frozen in connection with the case.
Earlier, Kharat was arrested on May 19 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and remains in judicial custody. Recently, on July 15, the ED provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 19.20 crore held in the names of the accused and their family members under the PMLA, 2002.
The investigation against Kharat was initiated based on multiple FIRs filed by various police stations. It was found that Kharat exploited the religious beliefs of devotees to extort money and properties by falsely claiming to possess divine powers. The laundered funds were channeled through cooperative credit societies and benami accounts for investments in properties across different cities.
