On December 9, Santosh Deshmukh, a village sarpanch in Maharashtra, was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered after trying to stop an extortion attempt by criminals targeting a windmill energy firm. State minister Dhananjay Munde resigned amid outrage over the incident, which involved his aide, Walmik Karad, as the mastermind. Deshmukh’s determination to protect the local economy led to threats against him, culminating in his brutal abduction and death. Graphic evidence of his torture emerged, contributing to political fallout and demands for justice. The murder also highlighted tensions between Maratha and Vanjari communities in the region.
Mumbai:
On December 9, Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of a village in Maharashtra’s Beed, was kidnapped, tortured for hours, and left for dead. The investigation into his murder revealed that he was brutally beaten with a rod and subjected to horrific violence. Nearly three months later, state minister Dhananjay Munde has resigned amid public outrage over the killing, which reportedly involved his top aide. The probe indicated that Santosh Deshmukh had attempted to thwart an extortion scheme targeting a wind energy company operating in the area, with the mastermind of his murder identified as Mr. Munde’s aide Walmik Karad.
A Rs 2 Crore Extortion Demand
Avaada, a green energy firm based in Mumbai, had been developing a project in Beed’s Massajog village. Over recent years, Beed and nearby districts have experienced economic growth due to the wind energy sector. However, local criminals have seized this opportunity, leading to extortion attempts and kidnappings. In May of the previous year, six months prior to Deshmukh’s murder, Sudarshan Ghule, the operator of a crime syndicate in Beed, kidnapped Sunil Shinde, a project officer with Avaada. Shinde later filed a police complaint. According to authorities, Vishnu Chate, another suspect in the murder case, contacted Avaada officials on behalf of Mr. Munde’s aide, local political figure Walmik Karad, and demanded Rs 2 crore. The officials were threatened with closure of the company’s operations if they failed to comply.
Santosh Deshmukh: A Local Hero
Santosh Deshmukh, the local sarpanch, was worried that the intimidation and extortion activities might force Avaada and similar firms to cease operations in Massajog, adversely affecting the livelihoods of local residents. Determined to intervene, he confronted Ghule. On December 6, just three days before his murder, Ghule and his associates assaulted some Avaada staff at the local office. Santosh Deshmukh and others arrived to intervene.
According to police, the perpetrators believed Santosh Deshmukh was obstructing their plans, prompting them to decide to eliminate him. Walmik Karad, identified as the orchestrator of the murder, allegedly instructed the other assailants to eliminate anyone who hindered their extortion efforts.
Deshmukh received multiple threats. When he refused to submit, he was abducted and murdered on December 9. Investigators discovered that Ghule, Karad, and Vishnu Chate had been in contact before and after Deshmukh’s death.
Images of a tortured Santosh Deshmukh in the police chargesheet
Brutal Torture, Shocking Videos
Santosh Deshmukh was kidnapped by six men in an SUV on December 9 afternoon at Dongaon toll plaza and taken to Kej taluka. He was discovered unconscious that evening in Daithna Shivar. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Reports from police officials indicate he was subjected to over two hours of beating with a gas pipe, an iron rod, wooden sticks, and sharp weapons.
The police have stated in the chargesheet that Santosh Deshmukh was tortured before his death, with the assailants recording 15 videos, taking eight photos, and even making two video calls to document the brutality. One video referenced in the chargesheet shows five assailants beating Mr. Deshmukh with a white pipe and wooden stick, while kicking and punching him. The footage depicts Deshmukh in a half-naked state. Another video reportedly shows one of the assailants urinating on him as he bleeds profusely, according to the chargesheet.
How Flames Scalded Minister
Walmik Karad, the principal accused in this horrifying murder case, is a close associate of NCP leader and then-minister Dhananjay Munde. As Karad’s alleged involvement in this shocking murder came to light during the investigation, the Opposition began calling for action. The Crime Investigation Department’s (CID) extensive 1,200-page chargesheet provided further fuel to their demands. As chilling footage detailing the suffering endured by Deshmukh circulated on social media and television, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took notice.
Sources say Mr. Fadnavis met with Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar to discuss the political implications of the chargesheet and what the investigation revealed about Karad’s alleged connection. Ultimately, he made the decision for Mr. Munde to resign.
Mr. Munde expressed that he firmly demanded the harshest punishment for those involved in the sarpanch’s murder. “The photos that emerged yesterday deeply saddened me. The investigation into this matter has concluded and the charge sheet has been submitted to the court. A judicial inquiry is also planned,” he stated. The NCP leader remarked that he listened to his “inner self” in arriving at this decision, noting that he has not been in good health and that his doctor advised him to seek treatment soon.
A Caste Sub-Plot
The murder of Santosh Deshmukh and its repercussions unfold against the backdrop of the intricate caste politics in the Marathwada region, which encompasses Beed. This area was central to the Maratha quota agitation during which Marathas and OBC Vanjaris engaged in conflict. This rivalry also manifested during last year’s Lok Sabha elections when BJP’s Pankaja Munde – a Vanjari – faced defeat against NCP (SP)’s Maratha candidate Bajrang Sonawane. Interestingly, Santosh Deshmukh, a Maratha, had campaigned for Pankaja Munde before the elections.
In this murder case, all the accused, including Karad, Ghule, and Chate, are Vanjaris.
Following the murder, several Maratha leaders have called for justice for Deshmukh, including BJP’s Maratha leader Suresh Dhasm, who previously demanded Dhananjay Munde’s resignation.