Dhananjay Munde.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: Maharashtra NCP minister Dhananjay Munde on Thursday vehemently denied involvement in the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of a village in Beed district.
Moreover, he called for death sentence for those involved in the murder of Deshmukh.
Munde’s close aide Walmik Karad has been arrested in connection with an alleged Rs 2 crore extortion case linked to the murder.
So far, four persons have been arrested - Vishnu Chate, Jairam Chate, Mahesh Kedar and Pratik Ghule while three others Sudarshan Ghule, Krushna Andhale and Sudhir Sangle are wanted in the case.
“Why should I resign? I am in no way directly or indirectly involved in the murder or extortion cases, the police are probing the matter,” Munde told reporters in Mumbai.
According to him, the government has announced three probes - by the Crime Investigation Department (CID), a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe and a judicial inquiry.
“No one will be spared. We will not allow goonda raj in Maharashtra,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state’s Home Minister, had announced.
“I want that the chargesheet be filed at the earliest, the case being tried before a fast track court and hanging of the accused persons,” said Munde, who is considered close to Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Ajit Pawar.
Asked about who would be guardian minister of Beed district, Munde said: “Our party leader would decide”.