Walmik Karad, a close associate of Maharashtra NCP minister Dhananjay Munde, surrendered in Pune on Tuesday in connection with an extortion case tied to the brutal murder of a sarpanch in Beed district. The court in Kej subsequently remanded him to 14-day police custody during a late-night hearing.
Karad arrived at the Crime Investigation Department (CID) office in Pune alongside his associates, where a preliminary inquiry was conducted before transferring him to the Beed CID team for further investigation. Before surrendering, Karad released a video on social media, alleging he was being framed as part of a political vendetta.
The case revolves around the abduction and murder of Santosh Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village, who was killed on December 9 after allegedly opposing an extortion attempt targeting a windmill company. While four arrests were made earlier, Karad was named as a wanted accused in the extortion case.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also handles the Home Department, faced mounting criticism over the delay in apprehending Karad. “There will be no goonda raj in Maharashtra. Everyone involved in this case will be brought to justice,” Fadnavis assured. However, opposition parties, including Congress and NCP, questioned the police’s inefficiency and demanded stronger action.
Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe criticized Fadnavis, calling for his resignation and demanding a judicial probe led by a sitting judge. NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad demanded the immediate dismissal of Dhananjay Munde, arguing that his position could hinder an impartial investigation.
NCP working president Supriya Sule expressed shock over Karad’s ability to post a viral video while evading authorities for nearly three weeks. Meanwhile, Beed BJP MLA Suresh Dhas commended Fadnavis for Karad’s surrender but took a dig at Munde, alleging complicity.
The scandal has also sparked outrage among Maratha community leaders, including activist Manoj Jarange and former Rajya Sabha MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati. Both demanded stringent action, with Sambhajiraje urging the invocation of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against Karad, a move that would make securing bail exceedingly difficult.
The case has plunged the newly-formed Fadnavis-led government into a political quagmire, with allegations of caste dynamics, ministerial connections, and administrative lapses dominating the narrative. As the investigation unfolds, the demand for accountability continues to escalate.
