<p>Mumbai: Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde’s close aide Walmik Karad, who is wanted in a Rs 2 crore extortion case linked to the gruesome murder of Santosh Deshmukh, a Sarpanch in Beed district, on Tuesday surrendered before the State-CID headquarters in Pune. </p><p>Karad has been absconding since the December 9 murder of Deshmukh (45), who was the three-time Sarpanch of Massajog village in Kaij tehsil of Beed district. </p><p>The issue has rocked the Nagpur winter session of Maharashtra legislature, following which Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, handed over the probe from the Beed police to the Crime Investigation Department, which has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT).</p>.Dhananjay Munde, Pankaja should quit ministerial posts till probe on into sarpanch murder: Damania.<p>The CID is looking at three cases -the abduction and murder of Deshmukh, extortion attempts from Avaada Group, a prominent renewable energy company and assault on its security guard. </p><p>“I have been booked in an extortion case. I could have gone for anticipatory bail, but instead, I am surrendering before the CID in Pune…a case registered against me in Kaij taluka of Beed district. Those who are involved in Santosh Deshmukh's (murder) case should be punished and hanged to death. My name is being taken in the case due to political vendetta,” Karad said in a video message before he drove to the State-CID headquarters. </p><p>The probe is being overseen by Additional Director General of Police Prashant Burde, who heads the State-CID. </p><p>So far four persons - Vishnu Chate, Jairam Chate, Mahesh Kedar and Pratik Ghule.have been arrested for the murder, while three are absconding. </p><p>Deshmukh’s family has alleged the involvement of Karad in the sensational murder and he was killed because he had opposed extortion attempts by local strongmen.</p><p>After the political turmoil over the issue and political parties cutting across party lines coming together in Beed, police deployed tech-intel and tracked Karad’s movements.</p><p>As soon as Karad entered the State-CID office, Deshmukh’s daughter Vaibhavi questioned how he could surrender and police did not find him and arrest. “The police must scan the CDR of his (Karad) mobile, and find out all those who had helped him in any manner, arrest and give them the most stringent punishment under the law,” she demanded, her eyes moist with tears.</p><p>Beed NCP (SP) MP Bajrang Sonawane, said the CID should probe the case in a transparent manner, and if Karad was found to be involved in the murder case (besides extortion), arrest him in that case too. Asked about Karad's claim that he was innocent, Sonawane said: "If it is a bogus case, he should have stated so earlier. Why did he take 20 days?" </p><p>BJP MLA Suresh Dhas and NCP (SP) MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar met Fadnavis and asked Fadnavis to ensure that Karad is booked for the murder as well. </p>
<p>Mumbai: Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde’s close aide Walmik Karad, who is wanted in a Rs 2 crore extortion case linked to the gruesome murder of Santosh Deshmukh, a Sarpanch in Beed district, on Tuesday surrendered before the State-CID headquarters in Pune. </p><p>Karad has been absconding since the December 9 murder of Deshmukh (45), who was the three-time Sarpanch of Massajog village in Kaij tehsil of Beed district. </p><p>The issue has rocked the Nagpur winter session of Maharashtra legislature, following which Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, handed over the probe from the Beed police to the Crime Investigation Department, which has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT).</p>.Dhananjay Munde, Pankaja should quit ministerial posts till probe on into sarpanch murder: Damania.<p>The CID is looking at three cases -the abduction and murder of Deshmukh, extortion attempts from Avaada Group, a prominent renewable energy company and assault on its security guard. </p><p>“I have been booked in an extortion case. I could have gone for anticipatory bail, but instead, I am surrendering before the CID in Pune…a case registered against me in Kaij taluka of Beed district. Those who are involved in Santosh Deshmukh's (murder) case should be punished and hanged to death. My name is being taken in the case due to political vendetta,” Karad said in a video message before he drove to the State-CID headquarters. </p><p>The probe is being overseen by Additional Director General of Police Prashant Burde, who heads the State-CID. </p><p>So far four persons - Vishnu Chate, Jairam Chate, Mahesh Kedar and Pratik Ghule.have been arrested for the murder, while three are absconding. </p><p>Deshmukh’s family has alleged the involvement of Karad in the sensational murder and he was killed because he had opposed extortion attempts by local strongmen.</p><p>After the political turmoil over the issue and political parties cutting across party lines coming together in Beed, police deployed tech-intel and tracked Karad’s movements.</p><p>As soon as Karad entered the State-CID office, Deshmukh’s daughter Vaibhavi questioned how he could surrender and police did not find him and arrest. “The police must scan the CDR of his (Karad) mobile, and find out all those who had helped him in any manner, arrest and give them the most stringent punishment under the law,” she demanded, her eyes moist with tears.</p><p>Beed NCP (SP) MP Bajrang Sonawane, said the CID should probe the case in a transparent manner, and if Karad was found to be involved in the murder case (besides extortion), arrest him in that case too. Asked about Karad's claim that he was innocent, Sonawane said: "If it is a bogus case, he should have stated so earlier. Why did he take 20 days?" </p><p>BJP MLA Suresh Dhas and NCP (SP) MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar met Fadnavis and asked Fadnavis to ensure that Karad is booked for the murder as well. </p>