Beed Sarpanch murder case: NCP's Dhananjay Munde faces big challenge as CM Fadnavis accused of protecting him

Mumbai: In the backdrop of a Sarpanch's murder and extortion racket coming to light in the Beed district, NCP minister Dhananjay Munde faces a big challenge as the Opposition has accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of protecting him.

Deputy CM and NCP President Ajit Pawar too is facing an embarrassing situation.

Munde, the nephew of late Gopinath Munde, is Maharashtra's Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister.

On December 9, Massejog village's Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was kidnapped and murdered brutally. Massejog is located in Kej tehsil of Beed. Four people including local NCP worker Vishnu Chate has been arrested by police.

However, in another case of extortion, name of Valmik Karad has cropped up. Coincidentally, Karad is considered close to Munde.

In the backdrop of the development, Munde met Fadnavis in Mumbai.

Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged that Fadnavis is protecting the "urban Naxals of Beed". "Fadnavis and Pawar speak of Ladki Bahin, however, criminals are making sisters widows," he said, in the recent years, 38 political murders have been reported form Beed.

"The CM should end the urban Naxalism in Beed. Does RSS, BJP and Fadnavis support what is happening in Beed," said Raut.

After meeting Fadnavis, Munde said that he is facing a "media trial" and his opponents are trying to finish him politically. "The killers may be close to anyone, I have made clear that they should be punished. I have been sharing from day one that the killers should be hanged," he said.

Couple of days ago, state Congress President Nana Patole wanted to know as to how Karad was given police protection when there are plenty of cases against him including murder. "Who recommended the protection and for what reason," he said.