SIT flooded with over 50 phone calls on Nashik 'godman' held for rape; complaints being verified
Mumbai (PTI): The Special Investigation Team (SIT) conducting a probe against rape accused and self-styled godman Ashok Kharat has received more than 50 calls in the last five days providing information or reporting crimes allegedly committed by him, officials said on Friday.
The Maharashtra government-appointed SIT earlier published two mobile phone numbers for citizens to share information regarding Kharat or report any offence committed by him, they said.
The police have so far registered eight FIRs against Nashik-based Kharat after receiving multiple complaints involving allegations of sexual assault, extortion, and circulation of objectionable material.
Kharat, who heads a temple trust at Sinnar in Nashik district and had several political leaders visit him over the years, was arrested on March 18 after a 35-year-old woman accused him of repeated rape over a period of three years. Following his arrest, multiple rape complaints were filed against him.
A senior official said that since the launch of the two dedicated mobile numbers, the probe team received an average of 15 to 20 phone calls daily.
Of the calls received in the last five days, more than 50 were about complaints against Kharat, he said, adding that the team is verifying the complaints.
The SIT has assured that to keep the identities of those providing information or reporting a crime strictly confidential, he said.
The SIT visited Kharat's office in Nashik on Friday, accompanied by the forensic science team.
A team of police officials recovered several documents and files, a diary and papers from the office, the official said.
The Nashik district administration has, meanwhile, suspended the former Merchant Navy officer's arms licence, citing that with multiple cases against him, he might use weapons to threaten and intimidate victims.
Nashik collector Ayush Prasad on Tuesday issued an order suspending Kharat's arms licence, another official said.
Kharat, a resident of Mirgaon in Sinnar, obtained a revolver licence on October 15, 2012, renewed it on January 1, 2024, with validity till December 2028, he said.
After a case was registered against Kharat at the Sarkarwada police station, the police recovered a weapon and bullets from him.
The licence was suspended under section 17(3) of the Arms Act. Moral turpitude is a valid ground for suspension of the licence, the order stated.
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Three held for running fake branded jeans' manufacturing unit in northwest Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI): The Delhi Police has busted a unit manufacturing counterfeit Levi's products in northwest Delhi's Rampura area and arrested three people, recovering over 1,400 fake jeans and accessories, an official said on Friday.
The accused have been identified as Pramod Yadav (41), a resident of Rampura; and Amar Prasad (43) and Mukesh Kumar Yadav (23), both residents of Rani Khera, he said.
Acting on a complaint regarding illegal manufacturing and sale of counterfeit Levi's branded products, a team of the District Investigation Unit (DIU) of northwest district conducted a raid at Rampura village on March 25.
"During the operation, police recovered 1,125 counterfeit Levi's jeans, 300 incomplete jeans, 579 brand stickers, 130 belts and 285 pocket pieces along with three sewing machines used in the manufacturing process," a senior police officer said.
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The accused were allegedly engaged in producing and supplying fake branded goods in the local market to earn illegal profits. They failed to produce any valid authorisation or documents related to the branded items, the police said.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Trade Marks Act at Keshav Puram police station and the accused have been arrested.
Further investigation is underway to ascertain the supply chain and distribution network of the counterfeit products, the police added.
