Farmer attempts self-immolation outside ZP CEO office over corruption probe

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

A farmer allegedly attempted self-immolation outside the chamber of Zilla Parishad CEO Minnu P M on Friday, accusing officials of deliberately ignoring complaints of corruption in Savkhed Khandala gram panchayat in Vaijapur tehsil. The incident was prevented due to the timely intervention of police personnel.

Farmer Kiran Pawar, Pimpalgaon Khandala, claimed he was denied access road to his farmland by neighbouring farmers despite repeated applications to the gram panchayat. He later alleged irregularities in works under MGNREGA and the Jal Jeevan Mission and sought an inquiry through the ZP Panchayat Department, Divisional Commissioner and Collector’s office. Pawar had been pursuing the issue since February 25, 2025. On March 30, 2026, the deputy CEO of the Panchayat Department had directed the Vaijapur Block Development Officer to conduct an inquiry and take action. However, alleging continued inaction and repeated assurances without results, Pawar warned the administration of self-immolation. On Friday afternoon, he poured diesel on himself outside the CEO’s chamber, but police personnel deployed there immediately intervened and took him into custody. Following the incident, tension briefly prevailed at the Zilla Parishad office. Deputy CEO and in-charge panchayat department officer Raghavendra Ghorpade counselled Pawar and assured action. Vaijapur in-charge block development officer Sahebrao Chavan