India, April 14 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted searches at 11 locations across three cities in Maharashtra as part of its money laundering probe against self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, who was arrested by the Nashik police last month for allegedly sexually abusing several women and duping businessmen and farmers.

The locations where searches were conducted included residential and commercial properties of Kharat and his relatives and associates in Nashik, Shirdi and Pune, officers familiar with the matter said. The operation covered the premises of his chartered accountant (CA) Prakash Pophale, they noted.

The ED's case, registered around a week ago, is based on a First Information Report (FIR) registered by th...