In the wake of the brutal murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, a delegation of leaders met Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan on Monday, demanding the removal of state minister Dhananjay Munde from the cabinet. The delegation, including BJP MLA Suresh Dhas, submitted a memorandum urging swift action to ensure a fair investigation and restore public trust in the justice system.
Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, was abducted, tortured, and murdered on December 9, allegedly for opposing extortion attempts by a group targeting an energy company. Seven individuals have been arrested so far, including Walmik Karad, an associate of NCP leader and minister Dhananjay Munde.
The leaders demanded Munde’s resignation, the filing of murder charges against Karad, disciplinary action against negligent police officials, and stricter measures to curb extortion and hooliganism in the region.
The memorandum alleged that extortion activities had surged during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, culminating in Deshmukh’s murder. It cited a series of incidents, including the kidnapping of an Avaada Power Pvt Ltd officer in May, a case resolved only after timely intervention by the Ahilyanagar police. The Beed police were criticized for their inaction despite repeated threats issued by Karad to Avaada officials, demanding ₹2 crore.
On December 6, Karad’s associates allegedly attacked security personnel at the company’s Massajog storeyard. Three days later, Deshmukh was abducted, tortured, and murdered, with a gruesome video of the crime circulated to intimidate others. His body was found in a nearby village.
Public outrage followed, with Massajog residents staging protests demanding arrests. Police acted only after significant public pressure, the leaders claimed. On December 31, Karad announced his surrender via social media, drawing crowds to the CID headquarters in Pune, which caused chaos.
The memorandum also raised concerns over alleged preferential treatment extended to Karad and the influence of powerful figures on the investigation. Signatories included prominent leaders such as former MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, NCP (SP) MP Bajarang Sonawane, Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar, and MLA Jitendra Awhad.
As the case gains momentum, calls for accountability and justice have cast a shadow over the political landscape of Maharashtra.
