Murder, Rape, Corruption: Inside the Scandals Haunting Ajit Pawar’s NCP
Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Pune, 27th May 2025: Individuals connected to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, have found themselves embroiled in numerous controversies over the past couple of years. While every political party has its share of controversial figures, the NCP has faced allegations of an unusually severe nature.
Once considered a centrist regional force in Maharashtra politics, the party is now facing growing public outrage as a string of its leaders and associates have been accused of crimes ranging from murder and rape to corruption and dowry deaths. Here’s a look at the key figures tarnishing the NCP’s image:
1. Dhananjay Munde: Former Minister Dhananjay Munde was forced to resign from the current Mahayuti Government after being linked to the brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district. Several of Munde’s aides were accused of killing Deshmukh over extortion disputes. Munde, a close aide of Ajit Pawar, has also faced rape allegations in 2021, corruption charges during his tenure as Agriculture Minister, and public disputes with his family, including his wife. The NCP has yet to take concrete action against him.
2. Walmik Karad: A long-time aide of Dhananjay Munde and former NCP member, Karad is the main accused in the 2024 murder of Santosh Deshmukh. He allegedly led an extortion racket targeting a windmill firm and orchestrated the murder after Deshmukh resisted. Karad has been charged under MCOCA and faces over 15 other criminal cases. His arrest led to Munde’s resignation and sparked controversy over jail security breaches. Suspended jail staff later alleged a fake encounter was being planned. Karad has sought discharge, citing insufficient evidence, and has been expelled from the party.
3. Shantanu Kukade: A former NCP office-bearer from Pune, Kukade was arrested in March 2025 under POCSO and rape charges for allegedly assaulting two minor girls through his NGO, the Red House Foundation. Co-accused include Tulsidas Nabiyar and Ronak Jain. Former MLA Ravindra Dhangekar accused Kukade of running a sex racket and receiving foreign funding, though police found no evidence to support those claims. Kukade resigned from the NCP in December 2024. He also faces another FIR for allegedly raping a Bhutanese woman—a case that remains politically charged.
4. Rajendra Hagawane: An office-bearer in Ajit Pawar’s NCP, Hagawane is currently in Pimpri-Chinchwad police custody following the suspicious death of his daughter-in-law, Vaishnavi Hagawane. He and four family members are accused of two years of physical and mental abuse over dowry and character accusations. Another daughter-in-law, Mayuri, has also made similar allegations. Vaishnavi was found dead on 16th May. Ajit Pawar attended her wedding and has vowed strict action. Hagawane has since been removed from the NCP.
5. Sunil Tingre: Former Vadgaonsheri MLA, Tingre was accused of pressuring Pune police to protect the minor involved in the infamous Kalyani Nagar Porsche accident. The Mahavikas Aghadi opposition made this a central issue during the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. Tingre denied all charges and issued defamation notices. He lost the 2024 election to Bapu Pathare from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP.
6. Manikrao Kokate: Maharashtra Agriculture Minister and NCP leader, Kokate was recently convicted in a 1995 fraud case involving forged documents to obtain flats under the Chief Minister’s quota. He was sentenced to two years and is appealing the verdict. Kokate also faced backlash for controversial remarks suggesting farmers were misusing crop insurance funds for weddings, likening them to beggars. Though he apologized, the statements damaged his image and fueled intra-party tensions.
7. Hasan Mushrif: Maharashtra Health Minister Mushrif became entangled in the Pune Porsche crash case for recommending Dr. Ajay Taware for a key forensic post at Sassoon Hospital. Dr. Taware was later arrested for allegedly swapping the blood samples of the teen accused. Although Mushrif denied direct involvement, he admitted to supporting the appointment. Separately, he is also under the Enforcement Directorate’s radar for alleged money laundering and corruption, further intensifying public scrutiny.
8. Deepak Mankar: Former Pune NCP city president, Mankar is embroiled in a Rs 1 crore land scam. He is accused, along with his aides, of document forgery and embezzling funds from an NGO linked to Shantanu Kukade. He claimed the money was for a legitimate deal, but police found the sale deed was forged. He resigned in May 2025 to avoid further embarrassment for the party and currently holds interim anticipatory bail.
9. Rupali Chakankar: Chairperson of the Maharashtra Women’s Commission, Chakankar faces backlash for her alleged inaction in the Hagawane dowry death case. Critics claim she ignored early warnings that might have prevented the tragedy. Accusations have been made that she prioritizes party interests over women’s welfare. Her reappointment for a second term also sparked dissent within the party. She has also faced online abuse and has filed police complaints in response.
10. Sunil Shelke: NCP MLA from Maval, Shelke has been accused in multiple cases, including violating the model code of conduct during the 2024 elections. Sharad Pawar publicly warned him for allegedly threatening NCP-SP workers, a charge Shelke denies. Though the accusations are serious, none have been proven, and Shelke has remained largely out of the public eye.
Honourable Mentions:
– Chhagan Bhujbal – Former Deputy CM, Bhujbal was linked to the Telgi stamp paper scam and jailed from 2016–2018 for corruption. He’s been out on bail since and has remained relatively controversy-free in recent years.
– Sunil Tatkare – State NCP President, Tatkare has faced allegations of land grabbing and disproportionate assets, drawing scrutiny from the ACB and Enforcement Directorate.
– Baburao Chandere – Former NCP corporator, accused of assaulting a senior citizen in a land dispute and threatening multiple individuals.
The pattern is clear, while most political parties endure individual scandals, the frequency, severity, and variety of allegations tied to NCP figures suggest a deeper rot within the party’s power structure. A majority of these controversies have emerged since the party split in 2023.
Though leaders from the NCP-SP faction have also faced accusations, the gravity of cases involving Ajit Pawar’s camp stands out. Whether it’s shielding allies, failing to act swiftly, or enabling a culture of impunity, the leadership’s silence has only fueled public skepticism. As Maharashtra navigates a new era of political realignments and unprecedented alliances, these controversies may not only haunt the NCP, they could define its political future.
