NEW DELHI: Self-styled godman-cum-astrologer Ashok Kharat allegedly sexually exploited women by claiming he possessed “divine power” and threatening to cause the death of their family members or defame them if they did not comply, investigators said.Kharat was arrested in March after a married woman accused him of raping her repeatedly over a period of three years. A subsequent investigation uncovered several alleged offences, including sexual assault and financial irregularities linked to land and other properties.He is currently in police custody and is facing 12 criminal cases in Ahilya Nagar and Nashik city, including eight related to sexual assault. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the case, has so far recorded statements of 30 witnesses and victims.According to investigators, Kharat allegedly followed a similar modus operandi in multiple cases, using fear, superstition and so-called rituals to control and exploit victims and their families.“During questioning, it came to light that the accused exploited the faith of victims and their families. By instilling fear of death in the victim’s family members and using items like stones, tamarind seeds, and conducting rituals, he extorted money from them,” IPS officer Tejaswi Satpute, who heads the SIT, told PTI on Tuesday.Explaining the alleged method used by Kharat, Satpute said he sexually abused women by claiming to possess divine powers and threatening them with death or defamation of their family members if they did not comply.Investigators said he also used items such as stones and tamarind seeds for intimidation and “divine invocation” while conducting “rituals.”“Kharat used the pretence of possessing divine powers to spread superstition in society,” she said.To probe the cases against him, the SIT has formed a special 24-member team.The investigation has also expanded to the online circulation of objectionable videos of victims.“The SIT’s cyber team has removed 4,650 links related to objectionable videos of victims, which were uploaded on various social media platforms. 451 accounts that repeatedly posted objectionable content on social media have been permanently deleted,” she said.Police have registered two cases in connection with the circulation of the objectionable videos and arrested six individuals.“Kharat is facing 12 criminal cases in Ahilya Nagar and Nashik City. Among these, eight are related to sexually assaulting women, and the SIT is probing a case of financial fraud,” Satpute added.The financial aspect of the case is also under scrutiny, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launching a probe into transactions allegedly linked to Kharat and his properties.Responding to a query on the financial aspects of the investigation, the IPS officer said the ED is probing financial transactions and properties.“We have provided the information requested by the ED to its special investigation team and will continue to offer our full cooperation,” said the SIT chief.After Kharat’s arrest, photographs of him with prominent politicians went viral, triggering a political controversy in the state.