India, April 7 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a money laundering probe against self-styled godman Ashok Kharat who was arrested last month for allegedly raping a woman multiple times over three years, officials familiar with the matter said.

The ED's case is based on a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Nashik police last month, following a complaint from a businessman who accused Kharat of extorting Rs.4-5 crore from him on multiple pretexts between 2018 to 2019. The complainant, who works in the real estate and construction sector, also alleged that Kharat had coerced him to transfer the ownership of his luxury car worth Rs.90 lakh to him in 2018, the officials said.

The ED's probe could spell further t...