India, March 20 -- A retired Merchant Navy officer who allegedly posed as a "Captain" and astrologer has been arrested in Nashik for the repeated sexual assault of a woman, with police recovering 58 videos, including some objectionable clips, from his possession.

The accused, identified as Ashok Kumar Kharat, is said to have been known in political circles for making predictions and had been visited by several prominent leaders over the years. His arrest has triggered widespread reactions in the region.

According to the FIR, Kharat allegedly sexually assaulted a 35-year-old woman multiple times between November 2022 and December 2025. Police said he would call the woman to his office in the Canada Corner area of Nashik, claiming that hi...