Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Dhananjay Munde to step down from his position in the Mahayuti government following the brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district. Munde is expected to submit his resignation on Tuesday.
The decision by Maharashtra CM came late on Monday night after gruesome images of Deshmukh’s killing went viral on social media, triggering public outrage, according to an ABP News report.
High-Level Meet Held At Ajit Pawar’s Bungalow
A high-level meeting was held at Devgiri Bungalow, the official residence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, where Fadnavis, Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and Munde discussed the escalating political crisis. According to the report, Fadnavis conveyed to Munde that he should step down from his ministerial post.
Minister’s Close Aide Accused in the Murder
The controversy stems from the involvement of Valmik Karad, a close associate of Dhananjay Munde, in Deshmukh’s murder. 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.
While Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar initially defended Munde, stating he had no direct role in the crime, pressure continued to mount. Fadnavis had earlier taken a neutral stance, saying Munde’s party should decide on the matter. However, the circulation of disturbing images showing Deshmukh’s murder led to urgent action.
Disturbing Images Reveal Gruesome Details
The leaked visuals of the murder have sent shockwaves across Maharashtra, intensifying demands for justice. The images and videos, retrieved from the mobile phone of accused Mahesh Kedar, depict a horrifying sequence where Deshmukh was stripped, brutally beaten to death and the assailants celebrated the act.
According to report, police have seized around 15 videos and 8 photos from Kedar’s phone. The footage also shows other accused, including Sudarshan Ghule, actively participating in the attack.
