Nashik: In the Shiridi land fraud case, a criminal case has been registered not only against Ashok Kharat but also against his wife. In this connection, Kharat’s wife, Kalpana Kharat, has now come under the radar of the Special Investigation Team (SIT). On Tuesday night, when the SIT team, along with the police, raided Kharat’s residence in Nashik, it was confirmed that Kalpana Kharat was absconding. During the operation, Kharat’s son Harshvardhan was taken into custody from the house by the police.
Although Ashok Kharat has been in custody for several days, he is reportedly not cooperating with the investigation. Therefore, the police are likely to question his son in his presence. Sources indicate that the investigation is not progressing due to Kharat’s failure to provide clear information. The SIT’s primary focus is to gather maximum information from Ashok Kharat and trace and arrest his wife.
At the initial stage, the SIT is prioritising the investigation into the sexual exploitation case, following which other offences will be probed. As part of the investigation, the SIT has also conducted detailed questioning of Kharat’s chartered accountant, the priest of the Ishanyeshwar temple, and a jeweller.
A case has been registered against five persons, including Ashok Kharat, in connection with the purchase of a four-acre plot in Shiridi. The offence has been filed at Shiridi Police Station under charges of fraud and provisions of the Money Lending Act. The complaint was lodged by the original landowner, Raosaheb Gondkar.
Those booked in the land deal fraud case include Ashok Kharat, his wife Kalpana Kharat, Shiridi-based middleman Arvind Bavke, Kiran Sonawane, and Ashok Tambe.
Meanwhile, after a fraud case was registered against Kalpana Kharat at Shiridi Police Station, she reportedly went absconding, and the police are actively tracing her whereabouts. Sources suggest that she fled after getting wind of the impending police action and possible arrest following the registration of the case.
Two police teams have reportedly been dispatched towards Nashik and Pune to carry out the arrest operation.
