Mumbai: Jailed self-styled godman Ashok Kharat’s wife Anuradha (50) and his close associate Jitendra Shelke (55) were killed after their car rammed into a stationary container truck on the Samruddhi Expressway in Ahilyanagar district on Friday. Kharat’s son sustained serious injuries in the accident and is undergoing treatment.
According to the police, the accident took place around 12 noon when Shelke, Anuradha and her son were travelling from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to Thane via the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway. Near Dhotre, Shelke, who was driving the car, lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a container truck parked on the roadside.
“All three suffered grievous injuries in the crash and were rushed to a local hospital, where Shelke and his wife were declared dead on arrival. The couple’s son is undergoing treatment at the hospital. A case of accidental death was registered at Kopargaon police station,” an official informed.
Kharat, who claimed to be a retired Merchant Navy officer and was known as “Captain”, was arrested on March 18 on charges of rape and other offences. He is alleged to have sexually abused more than 50 women by claiming to possess divine healing powers.
His wife’s death has sparked political reactions, with some Opposition leaders questioning the circumstances surrounding the crash.
NCP MLA Rohit Pawar posted on X, “One can’t help but wonder whether this accident was orchestrated so that Kharat’s other unrevealed misdeeds don’t come to light. A thorough investigation of this accident must be conducted. Moreover, since many matters are likely to surface in the inquiry into Bhondu Kharat as well, his safety must also be ensured.”
Sena UBTs; Sushma Andhare called the accident “unbelievable” and said that more people linked to Kharat could be in danger.
Congress leader Praniti Shide said that Kharat could be killed in an encounter. “More names are going to come out during the investigation. Some of them could be part of the current ruling dispensation in Maharashtra, including state ministers,” she said.
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