Beed (Maharashtra): Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has said that the resignation of Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde is not enough and has demanded that murder charges be filed against him in connection with the killing of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.
Munde, who was Maharashtra’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister and an MLA from Parli, resigned from the state cabinet after his close aide, Walmik Karad, was identified as the mastermind behind Deshmukh’s murder. His resignation followed mounting pressure from the opposition and public outrage over the brutal killing.
Visit to Massajog and Calls for Strict Action
Jarange visited Massajog village in Beed to meet Deshmukh’s family after graphic images of the murder went viral. Speaking to reporters, he stated, "Munde’s resignation as a minister is not enough. He should also step down as an MLA, and murder charges should be filed against him."
He alleged that the accused in the case were closely associated with Munde and that the money collected through their activities was reaching him.
The Case & Investigation
The demand for Munde’s resignation intensified after shocking details emerged in the court chargesheet, revealing the brutalities committed before Deshmukh’s murder.
Deshmukh was allegedly abducted, tortured, and killed on December 9, 2023, for attempting to stop an extortion racket targeting an energy company in the district.
On February 27, the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) filed a 1,200-page chargesheet in a Beed district court, detailing Deshmukh’s murder and two related cases.
Fighting For Justice
Jarange emphasized the need to dismantle the extortion network in Beed, stating, "The only job now is to destroy this racket. But some people are so consumed by money and power that they will go to any extent for it."
Deshmukh’s brother, Dhananjay Deshmukh, said the past few months had been unbearable and had left him emotionally shattered. He also alleged that some politicians had pressured the former superintendent of police in Beed to suppress the case.
With public outrage growing, demands for stricter action against those involved are gaining momentum, keeping the case in the political spotlight.
