Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh Murdered Due to Extortion Plot; Walmik Karad Linked to Killers

Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was allegedly murdered because he was seen as a barrier to a Rs 2 crore extortion plan targeting an energy company. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Maharashtra Police informed a court in Beed that Walmik Karad was in contact with the killers during the crime. Karad, linked to NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde, was remanded in SIT custody for seven days by the special court under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA).

Karad's appearance in court was marked by tight security, while his supporters called for a bandh in parts of Beed district, demanding his release. Previously arrested in the extortion case, Karad faced charges under MCOCA on Tuesday. The SIT, investigating Deshmukh's murder, sought his fresh custody. According to the SIT's remand application, Karad communicated with other accused individuals during events leading up to Deshmukh's murder.

Extortion Plot and Murder Details

Call detail records revealed Karad's interactions with the accused. On December 9, Sudarshan Ghule and his aides allegedly abducted and killed Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village. Before and after the crime, Ghule, Vishnu Chate, and Karad contacted each other, according to the SIT. Karad had earlier summoned Avaada company's representative Shivaji Thopte to his Parali office and allegedly demanded Rs 2 crore.

The SIT claimed that Karad threatened to halt Avaada's windmill projects in Beed if the demand wasn't met. On November 29, Karad reportedly called Sunil Shinde, another company official, from Vishnu Chate's phone, threatening to stop work unless Ghule's demands were fulfilled. On December 6, Ghule and others allegedly assaulted Thopte and a security guard at Avaada's local office.

Legal Proceedings and Defence Claims

Deshmukh and locals intervened to stop this violence. The accused believed Deshmukh obstructed their extortion attempts from Avaada, leading to his murder, stated the remand plea. Defence lawyer Ashok Kawde argued that Karad's arrest was based on media perception without evidence. He insisted that his client had no link to offence No. 637 registered last year at Kej taluka police station in Beed district.

Kawde stated that records showed no involvement of Karad in the case. "Going by records of the police and the arrested accused, we Karad were no way involved in the case. So this arrest of Karad is illegal and we made this argument in the court," he said. He further claimed that there was no evidence against Karad regarding offence No. 637/2024 related to Deshmukh's abduction.

Family's Plea for Justice

Manjili Karad, Walmik Karad’s wife, questioned how MCOCA could be applied based on one phone call. "How the MOCOCA can invoked on the basis of just one phone call," she remarked. She referred to recent protests led by Dhananjay Deshmukh, Santosh Deshmukh’s brother. "My husband has been trapped," she said but expressed faith in legal proceedings revealing the truth.

Manjili also highlighted Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange’s support for Santosh Deshmukh’s family while lamenting lack of support for her own family. "Manoj Jarange goes and seeks justice for the Deshmukh family. Who is standing with me?" she asked. She appealed to Jarange as a fellow Maratha community member for justice.

Protests and Security Measures

Supporters of Walmik Karad continued protests in Beed despite prohibitory orders effective until January 28. Some climbed a mobile phone tower at Pangri village demanding withdrawal of alleged false cases against him, according to a police official. A group of women also staged a sit-in protest in the village.

The bandh call by Karad’s supporters led to 80% shutdown of establishments in Shirsala and 30% closure in Peth Beed area, reported an official. Parli is Dhananjay Munde’s assembly constituency. Additional police forces were deployed in Beed including State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) units and Riot Control Police from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Dharashiv.