Beed Sarpanch Murder Case: Chaos Erupts Outside Sessions Court After Valmik Karad is Granted 7-Day SIT Custody | File Photo
Mumbai: The Beed Sessions Court on Wednesday witnessed a dramatic protest and chaos after the court granted seven days police custody to Valmik Karad in seven-day police custody in connection with the murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.
The custody was given after SIT made an application before the court mentioning Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) applied against Karad.
However, a chaotic scene unfolded outside the court as Karad was being escorted in a police van. Supporters and opponents of Karad engaged in a loud verbal clash, with slogans in favor of Karad and against him being shouted.
Members of the NCP led by advocate Hema Pimple demanded that Maharashtra Home Minister should visit Beed district to investigate the case. Some supporters said to the media that the charges against Karad were politically motivated.
After the court session, there was a marked divide among the local lawyers, with one group demanding capital punishment for Karad while another accused the authorities of filing charges against him improperly. The protesters were later detained by the police.
Protests continue
Protests continue in various parts of Beed, especially in Parli and Ambajogai talukas, with Karad’s supporters taking extreme actions. Some climbed mobile towers, threatening to self-immolate in protest against his arrest, while others burned tyres on the roads. Protesters continue to chant slogans such as “We want justice for Valmik” and assert that Karad is being falsely implicated. Local residents conducted road blockades.
Manjili Karad, wife of the accused, said, “How can a MCOCA be applied to Valmik on a single phone call? My husband is a victim of a media trial. Those who are making allegations against Valmik, like Bajrang Sonawane, Suresh Dhas and Anjali Damania, I can bring their matters outside too.”
NCP SP MP Supriya Sule, while speaking to the media, said that the chief minister should provide answers regarding what happened in Beed and Parbhani. “Since the Home Department is under Devendra Fadnavis, it is he who will be asked questions about this matter. Dhananjay Munde should have resigned on moral grounds. Fadnavis should have focused on the cases of Santosh Deshmukh in Beed and Somnath Suryawanshi in Parbhani,” she said.
Former minister Anil Deshmukh accused the Home Department of complete ineffectiveness in tackling crime. “Crime in Maharashtra is increasing at an alarming rate. A recently released Good Governance report reveals that the state’s Home Department has failed to curb crime in 32 out of 36 districts. This has led to strong criticism,” Deshmukh said.
Karad’s wine shop license canceled
The Keij Municipality revoked the no-objection certificate (NOC) it had issued to Valmik Karad for operating a wine shop. Local Member of Parliament Bajrang Sonawane had raised concerns about the legality of the NOC, which led to its cancellation by the municipal authorities.
