“If Accused Are Murdered, Where Are the Bodies?” Asks Minister Sanjay Shirsat to Anjali Damania in Pune
Pune/Beed, 28th December 2024: Social Worker Anjali Damania has made serious allegations regarding the kidnapping and murder case of Beed district’s Massajog village Sarpanch, Santosh Deshmukh. Damania claimed that the absconding accused had been murdered, citing a tip-off she received from an anonymous phone call. She has demanded the resignation of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Protection Minister and Parali MLA Dhananjay Munde over the issue.
In response, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar West MLA Sanjay Shirsat, addressing reporters in Pune, urged Damania to assist authorities instead of making baseless allegations.
Damania revealed that she received a WhatsApp call and voicemail claiming that the accused in Deshmukh’s case would never be found as they were already dead. The caller also provided the alleged location of their bodies. Damania admitted uncertainty over the validity of this information but raised questions about why Munde, a member of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction within the Mahayuti government, has not resigned.
Shirsat, a Cabinet Minister of Social Justice in the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction allied with Munde, responded strongly. He said, “Anjali Damania keeps making bogus allegations. If you have information, give it to the police. If they were murdered, where are their bodies? The government is standing by you. All this is getting worse due to baseless accusations. The accused will be arrested immediately. Six agencies are searching, and no one will be spared in taking action.”
The Maharashtra government is under fire for its handling of Santosh Deshmukh’s murder, sparking protests in Beed. On 9th December, Deshmukh was kidnapped, assaulted, and later found dead, with a post-mortem revealing multiple injuries. Four individuals, including ex-NCP leader Vishnu Chate, were arrested, while three others remain absconding. The victim’s family accused NCP leader Walmik Karad, a relative of Chate, of involvement, linking him to an extortion racket.
Opposition parties have criticized the government for failing to maintain law and order. CM Devendra Fadnavis announced a judicial probe and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter. Karad faces extortion charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and may also be implicated in the murder.
