A chilling murder of Sarpanch in Maharashtra’s Beed on December 9 last year (2024) had sent shockwaves around the nation where Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village, was killed. Reportedly, Deshmukh (45) was abducted, tortured and murdered on December 9 after he tried to stop an extortion attempt targeting an energy company, the investigation revealed.
Reportedly, Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde has resigned, after his close aide Walmik Karad was named as an accused in the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case.
In a post on X, Mr. Munde also said he was deeply saddened after seeing photographs related to the gruesome murder of Santosh Deshmukh. He added that he resigned as per his conscience and cited health reasons as well.
On February 27, a 1,200-page charge sheet was filed in a district court by Crime Investigation Department (CID) of state police and three cases, relating to the sarpanch’s murder, attempt to extort money from Avaada company and an assault on security guard of the firm, were registered.
Furthermore, the police have invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused in the cases. While one of the accused is still at large, seven persons have been arrested so far and booked under the MCOCA.
What led to Munde’s resignation
A thorough probe into the murder of the sarpanch revealed that one of the close aides of Mr. Munde landed in the cops net in connection with the case. Mr. Munde’s aide Walmik Karad was arrested for his alleged role in the murder.
Following the revelation, opposition parties have been seeking Mr. Munde’s resignation. He held the portfolios of food and civil supplies.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that Dhananjay Munde has stepped down from his ministerial position, and his resignation has been accepted.
Sources added that Fadnavis held discussions with deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in connection with the political and legal wimplications on the case on Monday night. The document had listed Karad as the main accused here.
Who is Dhananjay Munde?
Dhananjay Munde, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Parli in Beed district, has been under scrutiny after the CID’s revelations in the chilling Sarpanch’s murder case. He previously served as the guardian minister of Beed but currently, NCP leader Ajit Pawar holds the position.
Prior to this, Mr. Munde was embroiled in another controversy. A Bandra court last month found him guilty in a domestic violence case and ordered him to pay his estranged spouse Karuna Munde ₹2 lakh per month as alimony. He has appealed against the verdict.
Anti-corruption activist Anjali Damania had alleged that there was a ₹88 crore scam in the agriculture department when Mr. Munde held the portfolio in the previous Mahayuti coalition government. He has termed her allegations as “baseless” and politically motivated.
A former president of BJP’s youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Mr. Munde switched to Nationalist Congress Party in2013 and subsequently became part of the Ajit Pawar-led faction. He is a nephew of former Union Minister Gopinath Munde.
Published – March 04, 2025 01:54 pm IST