Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde has resigned after his close aide, Walmik Karad, was arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a sarpanch in Beed district last December. Munde, who held the portfolios of food and civil supplies, stepped down following Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ instructions amid growing political pressure over the case.
Chief Minister Fadnavis confirmed the resignation, stating, “I have accepted Dhananjay Munde’s resignation and forwarded it to Governor CP Radhakrishnan.” The decision came after discussions with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, weighing the political fallout of a chargesheet filed in the sarpanch’s murder case.
Munde’s Political Career and Connections
Dhananjay Munde, 49, is a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Ajit Pawar’s NCP, representing the Parli constituency in Beed. A nephew of BJP stalwart Gopinath Munde and cousin of Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde, Dhananjay Munde switched allegiance to the NCP in 2013.
After the party’s split in 2023, he sided with Ajit Pawar. He has previously served as Leader of the Opposition in the legislative council and as a minister in the Uddhav Thackeray government.
Sarpanch’s Murder: A Case That Shook Maharashtra
The case that led to Munde’s resignation revolves around the horrific killing of 45-year-old Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed. According to the Crime Investigation Department (CID), Deshmukh was abducted, brutally tortured, and murdered on December 9 after he tried to intervene in an extortion attempt targeting Avaada, a renewable energy company.
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Investigators filed a 1,200-page chargesheet on February 27 in a district court, charging eight individuals under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Seven accused have been arrested, while one remains absconding. Among the arrested is Walmik Karad, a close associate of Dhananjay Munde, intensifying the political controversy surrounding the case.
Chilling Details from the Chargesheet
The investigation has unearthed disturbing details about Deshmukh’s abduction and murder. Police reports reveal that he was kidnapped from the Dongaon toll plaza in an SUV and taken to Kej taluka, where he was subjected to over two hours of torture. Deshmukh was found unconscious at Daithna Shivar near Nandur Ghat Road and was declared dead upon arrival at a hospital.
According to forensic evidence and eyewitness accounts, Deshmukh was beaten with gas pipes, iron rods, wooden sticks, and sharp weapons. The assailants documented the brutality, recording 15 videos and taking eight photos of the assault.
The chargesheet includes shocking footage showing five men repeatedly thrashing Deshmukh, who was half-naked, with a white pipe and a wooden stick. Another video allegedly captures one of the attackers urinating on the bleeding victim.
Political Ramifications and Government Action
Dhananjay Munde’s resignation has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra’s political circles, raising concerns about the extent of political connections in the case. The state government, under pressure to take swift action, has vowed a thorough investigation to ensure justice for the slain sarpanch.
As the case unfolds, opposition parties have demanded further scrutiny into political links with organized crime in Maharashtra. The resignation of Munde is seen as a significant step, but the political and legal battles surrounding the case are far from over.
