Dhananjay Munde Resigns As Maharashtra Minister After CM Devendra Fadnavis Directs Him To Step Down

Mumbai: Maharashtra’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde resigned from his post on Tuesday following intense political pressure over the brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accepted Munde’s resignation before heading to the legislative assembly session today.

Munde’s resignation came after sustained demands from opposition parties, who had warned the government that they would not allow the session to proceed until he stepped down. Announcing the decision in the assembly, CM Fadnavis stated that Munde had voluntarily resigned and that the resignation letter had been sent to the governor for further action.

High-Level Meeting at Ajit Pawar’s Residence

The decision followed a high-stakes meeting at Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s official residence, Devgiri Bungalow, on Monday night. The meeting, attended by Fadnavis, Pawar, state minister Sunil Tatkare, and Munde, was held amid mounting public outrage over the case. During the discussion, Fadnavis reportedly informed Munde that he should step down to prevent further political damage to the Mahayuti government.

The controversy centres around Valmik Karad, a close associate of Munde, whose alleged involvement in Deshmukh’s murder sparked demands for the minister’s resignation. Karad has been a key figure in Munde’s political campaigns and district affairs for several years. His name emerging in the murder case intensified pressure on the government, with both opposition leaders and citizens calling for strict action.

Public Outrage Over Disturbing Images

The public backlash reached a peak after gruesome images and videos of Deshmukh’s murder surfaced on social media. These visuals, retrieved from the mobile phone of accused Mahesh Kedar, depict a horrifying scene where Deshmukh was stripped, brutally assaulted and ultimately killed. Reports indicate that the attackers even celebrated their actions, further fueling public anger.

Police have recovered around 15 videos and eight photographs from Kedar’s phone, which also reportedly feature Sudarshan Ghule and other accused individuals participating in the crime. The graphic nature of the visuals led to increased demands for justice and heightened political turmoil.

Political Implications

Initially, Ajit Pawar defended Munde, stating that the minister had no direct involvement in the crime. However, as pressure escalated and disturbing evidence emerged, the government was forced to act. Fadnavis, who had previously maintained that Munde’s party should decide his fate, ultimately took a decisive stance.

Munde’s resignation is expected to have major political repercussions in Maharashtra, with opposition parties likely to continue demanding accountability. Meanwhile, investigations into Deshmukh’s murder are ongoing and authorities are expected to take further action against those involved.