Maharashtra: Family of sarpanch demands action against Dhananjay Munde

Santosh Deshmukh, a three-time sarpanch was abducted, tortured and murdered on December 9, 2024. The State-CID has filed 1,200 pages in the murder case and two related cases in a court in Beed district.

Mumbai: Hours after shocking videos of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh emerged, his family on Tuesday morning demanded the resignation of state's Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Dhananjay Munde, whose close aide Walmik Karad is the alleged mastermind of the killing.

Deshmukh (25), a three-time sarpanch was abducted, tortured and murdered on December 9, 2024.

The State-CID has filed 1,200 pages in Santosh Deshmukh murder case and two related cases in a court in Beed district.

Three separate cases - murder of sarpanch, Rs 2 crore extortion bid from windmill company Avaada Group and assault on security guard of the firm -- were registered at the Kej police station in Beed, the investigations of which were taken over by State-CID, which has formed a SIT to probe the bunch of cases.

The police have invoked Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against Karad and other accused.

On Monday evening, Munde met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio.

Later, he met Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Ajit Pawar and state NCP President Sunil Tatkare.

Meanwhile, social activist Anjali Damania broke down, as she demanded the resignation of Munde for his links with Karad. "We have been hearing that the CM has asked Munde to resign....but where is the resignation," she said.