Walmik Kharad murdered Beed Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. Walmik was a close aide of the minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection, Dhananajay Munde. Karad has been managing Munde’s election campaigns and handling district affairs in his absence for several years. As his name surfaced in the murder case, opposition leaders and the public demanded Munde’s resignation. On March 4, Minister resigned from his post. Congress MLA Nana Patole said that there are several such ministers in the cabinet, and crime in Maharashtra is increasing. He also asked when the government will take action against such ministers.
Speaking with media reporters, he said, “It took so long for the Government to do this. It means that the Government protects the guilty. Crime has increased in Maharashtra...There are several such Ministers in Maharashtra's Council of Ministers. The question is, when will action be taken against such ministers?”
Also Read: Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde Resigns Over Santosh Deshmukh Murder Case
The decision was made by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on March 3 after the gruesome images of Deshmukh’s killing went viral on social media. On this matter, a high-level meeting was held at the Devgiri Bungalow, the official residence of the Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. The meeting was attended by Ajit Pawar, Devendra Fadnavis, Sunil Tatkare, and Dhananjay Munde.
According to media reports, Fadnavis conveyed to Munde that he should step down from his ministerial post. The controversy stems from the involvement of Walmik Karad, a close associate of Dhananjay Munde, in Deshmukh’s murder.