Delhi police had arrested a self-styled godman named Asif Khan alias Ashu Maharaj from the Shahdara area last night. A woman from Ghaziabad had alleged that he had raped her and her minor daughter several times. According to reports, not only “Ashu Maharaj”, but his son and his friends had also raped her on multiple occasions. Currently, Asif Khan alias “Ashu Maharaj” is being interrogated by the police in Hauz Khas police station.

The woman had registered a case against “Ashu Maharaj” last week. He is facing charges under section 376 and the relevant sections of the POCSO act for raping the woman’s minor daughter. He is reportedly a multi-millionaire and owns several properties and expensive cars. He has acquired a significant follower base posing as an astrologer, palm reader and healer. During investigations, several interesting facts have emerged about this con-man.

‘Ashu Maharaj’ is originally Asif Khan. He belonged to a Muslim family in JJ colony in Delhi. A report in Navbharat Times has stated that he used to repair tyre punctures in JJ Colony. Asif Khan was reportedly kicked out from his family home by his father twenty years ago. After that Asif started posing as an astrologer and earning money by reading astrology charts (kundali) and prescribing black magic healing solutions. He reportedly became quite rich while practising in the Padma Nagar area. After a servant duped him of Rs 50 lakh, Asif Khan alias Ashu Maharaj reportedly shifted his business to the Rohini area in Delhi.

Asif Khan’s real name and identity were reportedly revealed when the police found his voter ID card. His name was mentioned as Asif Khan son of Idha Khan. His son’s name is Samar Khan. According to reports, Asif Khan also used to make medicines and claimed to be an Ayurvedic doctor to dupe people. Reports claim that he used to charge 25,000 rupees for a meeting.