Murder of Beed Sarpanch: NCP Legislator Urges Dhananjay Munde to Resign for Unbiased Investigation

Mumbai, Jan 4 (NationPress) Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator Prakash Solanke on Saturday insisted that his party colleague and Maharashtra's Food and Civil Supply Minister Dhananjay Munde should either step down voluntarily or be compelled by the party leadership to do so, in order to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into the heinous murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh from Beed district.

Solanke stated, "When Dhananjay Munde served as the guardian minister for Beed district, he entrusted his political powers to his close associate Walmik Karad, who has been implicated in an extortion case related to Deshmukh's murder and surrendered to the Maharashtra Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Pune on Tuesday. Karad effectively acted as an extra-constitutional authority in the district."

"The environment in Beed has been severely affected by rising crime and extortion activities, which have escalated with Karad's support, disrupting social harmony. Therefore, Dhananjay Munde must resign voluntarily, or the party must ensure his removal for a genuine investigation," he added.

Solanke's remarks came shortly after the CID apprehended two additional suspects—Sudarshan Ghule and Sudhir Sangle—who had been evading capture since the murder incident on December 4.

Despite this, Munde has previously refused to resign, questioning, "If I need to resign, what would be the reason? I am not implicated in any of these cases, nor am I associated with them. Why is the Opposition demanding my resignation?"

Solanke reiterated his stance, insisting that Dhananjay Munde should resign promptly, especially with a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by IPS officer Basavraj Teli now investigating the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.

Furthermore, the Maharashtra CID is also conducting inquiries into this case.

"In my discussions with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, I requested Munde's removal from the Council of Ministers and demanded the execution of Santosh Deshmukh's killers. The Deputy CM assured me that an unbiased investigation is underway, and I trust him completely. This investigation will scrutinize illegal activities and their exploitation for political gain in Beed district," Solanke stated.

BJP legislator Suresh Dhas, known for raising multiple issues regarding the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, also called for Dhananjay Munde to be kept as a Minister without a portfolio until a charge sheet is filed in this matter.

Meanwhile, an all-party Morcha was organized by the ruling Mahayuti coalition in Parbhani to protest the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. A significant turnout of party members demanded the quick arrest of the accused and called for their execution.

A similar demonstration occurred in Beed on December 31.

Pro-Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who joined the protest in Parbhani, warned that threats to Santosh Deshmukh's family would lead to serious repercussions for Dhananjay Munde.

This was prompted by threats made against Santosh Deshmukh's brother, Dhananjay Deshmukh, when he visited the police station to check on the investigation's progress.

"We learned that Dhananjay Deshmukh was threatened at the police station. Moving forward, if there are any repercussions for Santosh Deshmukh's family, we will not allow Dhananjay Munde to walk freely. We have already endured the loss of our brother. Until now, we have refrained from naming anyone, but if the Deshmukh family faces further issues, we will take action," Patil declared.

He added, "If individuals are being killed and the perpetrators are being sheltered, we cannot accept this. How did all the accused suddenly appear in Pune? This indicates that government ministers were protecting the suspects. A narco test should be conducted on those involved in the murder and the extortion case."