Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reportedly asked NCP minister Dhananjay Munde to step down following allegations linking his close associate, Walmik Karad, to the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. According to sources, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar met Fadnavis on Monday night to deliberate on the implications of the chargesheet filed by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in the murder case. Karad has been named as the prime accused not only in Deshmukh’s murder but also in two related cases, increasing the pressure on Dhananjay Munde. Sources indicate that Fadnavis has urged Dhananjay Munde to submit his resignation immediately.
Dhananjay Munde, currently serving as the state’s food and civil supplies minister, is an NCP legislator from Parli in Beed district. Previously, he held the position of guardian minister for Beed. Currently, NCP leader Ajit Pawar serves as the guardian minister for both Beed and Pune districts. Reports suggest that Dhananjay Munde is likely to resign today, given the mounting opposition pressure over the murder case. His resignation has been a key demand from opposition parties, who argue that his close ties to Karad necessitate his stepping down. Opposition leaders have warned that if Dhananjay Munde does not resign today, they will escalate their protest by disrupting proceedings in the legislative assembly.
There is speculation that Dhananjay Munde may meet with Chief Minister Fadnavis to formally submit his resignation. The opposition has intensified its demands, particularly after Karad’s involvement in an extortion case linked to the murder surfaced. This development has added to the growing political controversy surrounding the case.
The Beed sarpanch murder case revolves around Santosh Deshmukh, the elected head of Massajog village, who was abducted, tortured, and killed on December 9 last year. Investigations suggest that Deshmukh had opposed an extortion attempt targeting an energy company in the district, which ultimately led to his murder. The CID recently submitted a comprehensive chargesheet of over 1,200 pages in a Beed district court, detailing the events surrounding Deshmukh’s murder and two associated cases.
Authorities have registered three separate cases in connection with the incident—the sarpanch’s murder, an extortion attempt against Avaada company, and an assault on the company’s security guard. The accused have been booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). So far, seven people have been arrested, while one accused remains at large. As political tensions rise, the case has turned into a significant test for the Maharashtra government, with increasing scrutiny over the political connections of the accused.
