A close aide of jailed godman Ashok Kharat and his wife died in a car crash on the Samruddhi Expressway.
Mumbai: A close associate of jailed self-styled godman Ashok Kharat and his wife were killed in a road accident on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district on Friday, police said.
The deceased were identified as Jitendra Shelke (55) and his wife Anuradha Shelke (50). Their son sustained serious injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.
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According to police officials, the accident occurred around 12 pm near Dhotre village under the Kopargaon Police Station limits. Shelke was driving the car while travelling from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to Thane along with his family.
Preliminary findings suggest that Shelke lost control of the vehicle, which then rammed into a stationary container truck parked on the roadside.
All three occupants suffered grievous injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital, where Shelke and his wife were declared dead on arrival. Their son remains under medical care.
Police said a case of accidental death has been registered and further investigation is underway. Authorities, along with the Regional Transport Office and automobile experts, will conduct a crash analysis to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Shelke was known to be a close associate and business partner of Ashok Kharat, who is currently in jail facing charges including rape and fraud.
(With PTI inputs)
Published: 17 Apr 2026, 05:28 pm IST
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