Beed sarpanch murder: Munde's resignation will be announced before budget session, claims estranged wife Karuna Sharma

Mumbai: In what sparked a buzz in Maharashtra’s political circles, the estranged first wife of Dhananjay Munde claimed that he would resign before the commencement of the budget session on Monday. 

A veteran OBC leader, Munde, the state’s Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister, is part of NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. 

Munde is also close to Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. 

The claim comes a couple of days after the State-CID, in its chargesheet in the Santosh Deshmukh murder case, described Munde’s close aide Walmik Karad as the mastermind. 

In a Facebook post, Karuna Munde said: “3-2-2025 ko rajinama hoga…Karuna Dhananjay Munde.” 

Karuna Munde also reiterated the claim while talking to reporters. “As per my sources, Munde's resignation was sought two days ago, and he would have to step down from his post. It will be announced before the (budget) session,” she said and pointed out that Munde has claimed that if Karad was found involved, he would step down.

“There is nothing left now…for moral or whatever other reasons, Dhananjay Munde will have to resign,” she added.

When contacted, Minister Munde said he would attend the state cabinet meeting scheduled later in the day.

The 13-day budget session of the state legislature will begin on Monday.

Munde has been under fire from the opposition after his aide Walmik Karad was arrested in an extortion case linked to the murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in December last year.

As per a report attached in the chargesheet filed in the Santosh Deshmukh murder case, Karad had allegedly asked the other accused to get rid of whoever came in the way of his bid to extort money from a wind energy company, police have said.

(With PTI inputs)