Nashik Court Grants Pre-Arrest Bail to Ashok Kharat’s Wife Kalpana in ‘Black Magic’ and Land Cheating Case

Nashik, 23rd June 2026: An Additional Sessions Court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to Kalpana Ashokkumar Kharat, the wife of self-styled godman and astrologer Ashokkumar Eknath Kharat, in a case involving alleged land grabbing and black magic. The court observed that the dispute appeared to be a civil transaction that had been given a “criminal color” after an inordinate delay of 22 years.

The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Kedar Rajaram Joglekar at the Nashik Road Court on June 23, 2026.

The Alleged Land Fraud and ‘Supernatural’ Threats
The case stems from a First Information Report (FIR) lodged on April 7, 2026, at the Sinnar Police Station (C.R. No. 225/2026) by a local farmer and grocer, Shivram Eknath Mali.

According to the prosecution, Shivram Mali, along with his father Eknath and his brothers (Chandrabhan, Sopan, and Namdev), had purchased 16.5 acres of agricultural land in 1997 from one Jagannath Boob. Located at Mirgaon near Shirdi, the land comprised Gat Nos. 318/1 to 318/5.

In 2003, intending to sell the land, the family approached Ashokkumar Kharat, who operated a real estate agency named “Okus” on College Road, Nashik. Ashok Kharat, who also presented himself as an astrologer with divine powers, allegedly spun a web of fear. He told the Mali family that a suicide had occurred in a well on the land, rendering it a “bad omen.” He warned that if they did not sell the land immediately, one of the brothers would die.

Under the grip of fear, the family agreed to sell. In November 2003, Ashok Kharat allegedly performed superstitious rituals (pooja vidhi) on the land, chanted spells, and handed the brothers four utensils wrapped in red cloth to keep in their house for 11 days. In February 2004, a registered Sale Deed was executed at the Sub-Registrar’s office in Sinnar.

The land belonging to Shivram, his father, and brother Chandrabhan was registered under Ashok Kharat’s name for ₹2.49 lakh. Meanwhile, the portion belonging to the other two brothers, Sopan and Namdev, was registered in the name of Ashok’s wife, Kalpana Kharat, for ₹1.37 lakh.

The complainant alleged that Ashok Kharat never paid the promised consideration. When the family demanded their money, Ashok reportedly threatened them with black magic and supernatural destruction, forcing them into a silence that lasted over two decades. The family finally approached the police in April 2026 after Ashok Kharat was arrested by Nashik city police in connection with other high-profile cases of fraud, extortion, and sexual exploitation.

Legal Arguments in Court
Seeking pre-arrest bail under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the defense counsel representing Kalpana Kharat argued that she had been falsely implicated. The lawyer, Adv Prashant Giri, emphasized that:
The transaction took place in 2004, making the FIR delayed by a staggering 22 years, during which no civil suit or police complaint was ever filed.
Kalpana Kharat never participated in any business meetings, never visited the agricultural land, made no representations, and never issued any threats or false promises to the Mali family.

The dispute was strictly civil in nature.
The prosecution, represented by the Additional Public Prosecutor (A.P.P.), strongly opposed the application, arguing that the fraud was severe and that Ashok Kharat was an influential accused who had actively cheated the farmers.

Court’s Observations and Order
Additional Sessions Judge Kedar Rajaram Joglekar observed that the transaction was executed through a registered document 22 years ago, with no legal steps taken by the complainants in the interim.

The Court noted:
“Admittedly, present accused/applicant 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 or his brothers… Absolutely, this is nothing but civil transaction to which colour of criminal case is given.”

Ruling that no custodial interrogation was warranted, Judge Joglekar allowed the application. The court directed that in the event of her arrest, Kalpana Kharat be released on bail of ₹1,00,000/- with one surety of the like amount, subject to the conditions that she cooperates with the investigation, does not tamper with evidence, and submits copies of her Aadhaar and PAN cards.