India, April 26 -- A Mumbai-based financial consultant has accused arrested rape accused and self-styled godman Ashok Kharat of extorting and cheating him of more than Rs.8.76 crore over the past two years, allegedly by convincing him that costly religious rituals were necessary to prevent the deaths of his parents.

Based on a complaint filed by Lalit Pophale, 48, a Worli resident and former trustee of Shivnik Sansthan, a Nashik-based trust led by Kharat, the Sarkarwada Police Station in Nashik has registered a fresh FIR against Kharat under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to extortion, cheating and offences linked to superstition.

This is the 17th FIR registered against Kharat in the past month...