Ujjwal Nikam appointed special public prosecutor in Beed sarpanch murder case

Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, was abducted and murdered on December 9, 2024. It was alleged that he was killed for opposing an attempt to extort money from a wind energy firm operating in the area.

Mumbai: In a significant development, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday appointed Ujjwal Nikam as the Special Public Prosecutor in the Santosh Deshmukh murder case. 

Besides, Balasaheb Kolhe has been appointed as Assistant to the Special Public Prosecutor. 

A veteran lawyer, Nikam has represented the State and the police in cases like the  March 12, 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks of 2008.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the portfolios of Home and Law & Judiciary departments, made the announcement even as the people of Massajog village continued their hunger strike for the second day.

Santosh Deshmukh (45), a three-time Sarpanch of Massajog village in Kaij tehsil of Beed district, was kidnapped, tortured and murdered on December 9, 2024, for putting up a resistance against an extortion syndicate. 

State Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde’s close aide Walmik Karad has been arrested in an extortion case linked to the murder. 

The Kaij police station initially filed the FIR. 

The investigations were later taken over by the State-CID, which has formed a Special Investigation Team. 

The SIT has questioned 150 plus persons in connection with the case.

Several public representatives from Beed and people of the Parli tehsil have been demanding that Nikam should represent the case. 

“The chargesheet is yet to be filed. I have not yet gone through the details of the case. I would not be able to comment on the case,” he said. He, however, appealed to the villagers to remain calm. 

Beed district’s Superintendent of Police Navneet Kanwat and Tehsildar Ashok Bhandare has informed the family and the villagers that a probe is underway even as the locals slammed the shoddy investigations.

Deshmukh’s brother Dhananjay Deshmukh is leading the hunger strike.

Villagers are demanding action against the initial cover-up by police.

The appointment of Nikam comes just ahead of the budget session of Maharashtra legislature.

The opposition parties are demanding the resignation of Munde.