Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Dhananjay Munde Resigns Amid Allegations in Santosh Deshmukh Murder Case

Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Mumbai, 4th March 2025: Maharashtra Cabinet Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection and Parli MLA Dhananjay Munde, has resigned following his alleged connection to the kidnapping and murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accepted Munde’s resignation earlier today, marking a significant political fallout from the case.

The controversy stems from the brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh on 9th December 2024, reportedly linked to an extortion dispute involving Walmik Karad, a close aide of Munde. Karad, known as Munde’s “right-hand man” in Beed, allegedly orchestrated the killing after Deshmukh confronted him and his associates over a violent altercation related to a Rs 2 Crore extortion demand from Avada, a wind turbine company. The gruesome photos of Deshmukh’s murder, which surfaced on social media, sparked outrage across Maharashtra and intensified demands for accountability.

Amid mounting public pressure and criticism of the initial police inaction, CM Fadnavis ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. The joint investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and SIT implicated Karad and his associates, leading to their prosecution under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) of 1999. A 1,500-page chargesheet filed recently identified Karad as the mastermind behind Deshmukh’s abduction and murder.

Karad’s deep ties with Munde have drawn significant scrutiny. Known for managing Munde’s election campaigns and overseeing his local affairs in Beed during his absence, Karad was a trusted confidant. His alleged involvement in such a heinous crime has not only tarnished Munde’s reputation but also raised questions about the minister’s indirect role in shielding his associate.

Munde’s resignation was delivered to CM Fadnavis by his aides Prashant Bhamre and Prashant Joshi at the CM’s official residence. The move comes as public anger continues to mount over the handling of the case and its political implications. The resignation marks a major development in Maharashtra politics as the state grapples with calls for justice in the Santosh Deshmukh murder case.