India, March 26 -- The state government had allocated over Rs.1 crore to develop amenity spaces around Ishaneshwar temple in Mirgaon village of Sinnar tehsil, in Nashik district eight years ago. The temple gained traction recently as it is managed by a trust headed by self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, who was arrested recently after a woman filed an FIR against him alleging that she was raped by him multiple times over three years; since then six other women have come forward with similar complaints.

According to sources in the district administration, the funds were sanctioned through a government resolution (GR) issued on March 31, 2018, by the state tourism and cultural affairs department, under BJP minister Jaykumar Rawal.

When HT re...