Tiranga bike rally is a political event: Adhir Chowdhary

A Nashik court on Thursday remanded a 67-year-old astrologer, Ashok Kumar Kharat, to police custody till March 24 after his arrest in a shocking rape case. A retired Merchant Navy officer, Kharat is accused of sexually exploiting a woman repeatedly over more than three years. According to police, he allegedly manipulated the victim by claiming divine powers, coercing her into rituals and assaulting her under threats and intimidation. The case, registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Black Magic Act, is being investigated by the crime branch. Authorities also recovered documents, a pistol and cartridges from his residence, further intensifying the probe into the case.