India, March 25 -- The recovery of 21 cartridges, including five used ones, from self-styled godman Ashok Kharat has become a key focus of the investigation, with police probing whether the ammunition was used in alleged human or animal sacrifice rituals.

A Nashik court on Tuesday remanded Kharat to five more days of police custody in connection with multiple cases of alleged sexual abuse of women.

While the police had sought a week's custody, the court of additional chief judicial magistrate KH Patil granted five days to the special investigation team (SIT) to continue its probe.

Assistant public prosecutor Shailendra Bagade told the court that Kharat's custodial interrogation was crucial, particularly in light of the cartridges and a...