India, May 21 -- A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Wednesday granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of self-styled godman Ashok Kharat till May 26, holding that his custodial interrogation was "absolutely necessary" to unravel what the agency described as a sophisticated network of benami bank accounts, fixed deposits and alleged laundering of extorted funds linked to him.

Special judge Chakor S Baviskar passed the order after the ED formally arrested Kharat on Tuesday in connection with an alleged Rs.70-crore extortion and money-laundering racket linked to multiple rape, cheating and sexual exploitation cases registered against him in Maharashtra. Kharat was produced before the court from judicial cu...