Mumbai, Jun 23 A court in Maharashtra's Nashik on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to self-styled godman Ashok Kharat's wife in a cheating and black magic case linked to a land deal, saying the matter is a civil dispute that has been given the "colour of a criminal case".
Additional sessions judge Kedar Joglekar, while allowing the pre-arrest bail plea of Kalpana Kharat, noted that there was an inordinate delay of over two decades in filing the case.
The court pointed out that the alleged transaction took place in 2004, whereas the First Information Report (FIR) was filed only on April 7, 2026.
"Kalpana Kharat has never participated with any discussion of transaction, meeting, never visited the agricultural land in question, never made any representation, never induced or gave any threats to the present informant (complainant) or his brothers, nor made any false promise or any type of verbal or written communication to them," the court said.
Absolutely, this is nothing but a civil transaction to which the colour of criminal case is given, the judge remarked.
The specific case against the Kharat couple is registered at the Sinnar police station on the complaint of Shivram Eknath Mali.
According to the FIR, Mali and his family owned 16.5 acres of land in Sinnar, which they intended to sell.
In 2003, they came into contact with applicant Ashok Kharat, who operated a land registry business.
The prosecution alleged that Ashok Kharat induced fear in the family by pretending that someone had committed suicide in a well on the land, warning them that one of the informant's brothers could die if the property was not sold immediately.
He also reportedly promised to construct a temple on the site.
In November 2003, Ashok Kharat allegedly performed rituals on the property, chanting and distributing four utensils covered in red cloth to the family to keep in their home for 11 days, the police said.
Following this, in February 2004, the registered sale deeds were executed.
A part of the land was registered in Ashok Kharat's name, while another portion was registered in the name of his wife, Kalpana, for Rs 1.37 lakh, the police said.
The informant claimed that when they later protested against inadequate monetary consideration, Ashok Kharat threatened them with black magic.
Kalpana's lawyer pressed for anticipatory bail arguing that the case was purely contractual, and noted that she had no role in any alleged intimidation or black magic.
The judge, after hearing both sides, allowed her plea noting that the nature of the allegations does not warrant custodial interrogation, and nothing needs to be seized from her possession.
Ashok Kharat is facing multiple criminal cases, including sexual assault and fraud in Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts. He is currently in judicial custody.
