Senior Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Sunday said the probe into the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed must be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Wadettiwar expressed frustration over the delay in the arrest of Valmik Karad, a suspect in Deshmukh’s murder. Despite Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s earlier promises during the winter session of the legislature to take stringent action against the accused, including invoking Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA), Karad’s arrest has not yet occurred.
“The government is turning a blind eye to the corruption and deteriorating law and order situation in Beed. Is Valmik Karad the son-in-law of the government? All fingers are pointing to Walmik Karad whose relation with NCP minister Dhananjay Munde is well known. Till Karad has political blessings, the family of sarpanch Deshmukh will not get justice.
“The government has not woken up and sacked Munde even after the massive protest in Beed on Saturday,” the senior Congress leader said.
Wadettiwar argues that justice will not be served until an impartial inquiry is conducted, and calls for Munde’s resignation as a prerequisite for this process.
The leader further criticised the state’s law enforcement, drawing a comparison between Beed and Bihar due to the rising incidents of land grabbing, extortion and sexual violence in the region. He pointed out that while police were aggressive in taking action against Bhim Army activists in Parbhani, they appeared to be ineffective in Beed.
Wadettiwar also raised concerns over Deshmukh’s grieving daughter, asserting that the government has turned a blind eye to the family’s suffering. He called for a narco test on Karad and demanded a thorough investigation into all the criminal activities that have occurred in Beed.
