Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde resigned after his aide, Walmik Karad, was arrested for involvement in the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed district. Ordered by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Munde emphasized the need for severe punishment for the accused. The investigation revealed Deshmukh was tortured and killed on December 9 while attempting to thwart an extortion plot. The Crime Investigation Department filed a 1,200-page chargesheet, invoking stringent laws against eight accused. Munde, affiliated with the NCP, has experienced health issues and stated he felt compelled to resign after hearing his “inner self.”
Mumbai:
Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde has resigned following the arrest of one of his close aides in connection with the horrific murder of a sarpanch in Beed district last December. Mr. Munde, who is responsible for the portfolios of food and civil supplies, stepped down at the direction of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after his aide Walmik Karad was implicated in the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village.
In a post on X, Mr. Munde expressed his strong belief that those responsible for the sarpanch’s murder should face the severest penalties. “The images that emerged yesterday deeply disturbed me. The investigation into this case has concluded, and the charge sheet has been submitted to the court. Additionally, a judicial inquiry is being proposed,” he stated. The NCP leader mentioned he had listened to his “inner self” to reach this decision. He also noted that his health has not been great, with doctors advising him to seek treatment soon.
Mr. Fadnavis informed the media that he had accepted Mr. Munde’s resignation and has sent it to Governor CP Radhakrishnan.
According to sources, Mr. Fadnavis’s decision followed a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to discuss the political implications of the chargesheet concerning the sarpanch’s murder and the investigation into Karad’s alleged involvement.
Dhananjay Munde, a 49-year-old MLA from Ajit Pawar’s NCP, represents Beed’s Parli constituency in the Assembly. He is the nephew of the late BJP veteran Gopinath Munde and a cousin of Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde. Dhananjay Munde joined the NCP in 2013 and sided with Ajit Pawar when the Sharad Pawar-led party divided in 2023. Previously, he has held the position of Leader of the Opposition in the legislative council and served as a state minister in the Uddhav Thackeray administration.
Behind Minister’s Ouster, A Chilling Murder
The investigation has revealed that Santosh Deshmukh, the 45-year-old sarpanch of Massajog village, was abducted, tortured, and murdered on December 9 after opposing an extortion attempt on an energy company.
The state police’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) filed a comprehensive 1,200-page chargesheet in a district court on February 27. Three cases have been registered—concerning the sarpanch’s murder, an attempted extortion of the Avaada company, and an assault on a firm security guard. The stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) has been applied to eight suspects; seven have been apprehended, while one remains at large. Among those arrested is Karad, a close aide of Dhananjay Munde, intensifying pressure on the state government to take action against the minister.
Brutal Torture, Shocking Videos
Santosh Deshmukh was kidnapped by six men in an SUV on December 9 at Dongaon toll plaza and subsequently taken toward Kej taluka. He was discovered unconscious at Daithna Shivar near Nandur Ghat Road that evening and was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police officials reported that he endured beatings for over two hours with a gas pipe, an iron rod, wooden sticks, and sharp weapons.
The chargesheet states that Santosh Deshmukh was subjected to torture before his death, with assailants documenting the brutality through 15 videos, eight photographs, and even two video calls. One video in the chargesheet depicts five suspects assaulting Mr. Deshmukh with a white pipe and wooden stick while kicking and punching him. The footage shows Deshmukh in a semi-nude state. Another video captures one of the assailants urinating on him as he bleeds profusely, according to the chargesheet.