India, April 11 -- If the specific rules for the implementation of Maharashtra's anti-superstition law had been notified, rituals conducted by self-styled godman Ashok Kharat could have been flagged as illegal long before the alleged rape and sexual exploitation of multiple women took place, a recent public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Bombay High Court has claimed.

The PIL, filed by the Kolhapur arm of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS) before the Kolhapur bench of the high court on Thursday, highlighted that it has been over 12 years since the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act was enacted, but the rules for its implement...