Leaders demand Dhananjay Munde's removal over Beed sarpanch murder case

A delegation of political leaders met Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan on Monday, demanding the removal of Minister Dhananjay Munde from the state cabinet to ensure a fair investigation into the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. The leaders, including BJP MLA Suresh Dhas, submitted a memorandum at Raj Bhavan, urging the governor to take strong action to maintain public trust in the justice system.

Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, was abducted, tortured, and murdered on December 9, allegedly because he attempted to stop an extortion attempt against an energy firm running a windmill project. The police have arrested seven individuals in connection with the case, including Walmik Karad, an associate of Minister Munde, who was detained in the extortion case.

The leaders have called for Munde's resignation, the filing of a murder case against Karad, strict action against negligent police officers, and measures to curb extortion and criminal activities in Beed. They highlighted that extortion activities had escalated during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, culminating in Deshmukh's murder.

The memorandum also pointed out that on May 28, 2024, an officer of Avaada Power Pvt Ltd was kidnapped but rescued after timely action by Ahilyanagar police. However, Beed police were criticized for their lack of proactive response. The leaders claimed that Karad had repeatedly threatened Avaada officials, demanding Rs 2 crore, and his associates allegedly attacked security personnel at the company’s Massajog storeyard on December 6, 2024.

Deshmukh's abduction, torture, and murder occurred on December 9, and a video of the crime was circulated to intimidate others. His body was later found in a nearby village. The leaders also mentioned that the residents of Massajog staged protests the following day, demanding the arrest of the accused, but the cases were registered only after public pressure mounted.

The memorandum further stated that on December 31, 2024, Karad announced his surrender via a social media video, and crowds gathered at the CID headquarters in Pune during his surrender, causing disorder. The leaders raised concerns about the alleged preferential treatment for Karad and the influence of powerful figures on the investigation.

The memorandum was signed by former MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, NCP (SP) MP from Beed Bajarang Sonawane, Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar, and MLA Jitendra Awhad, among others.