Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde has resigned from his ministerial position following Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ request. The resignation comes after Munde’s close associate, Valmik Karad, was named as an accused in the murder case of Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. Munde, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator from Parli in Beed district, served as the Minister of Food and Civil Supplies in the state’s Mahayuti government.
Key Highlights:
- Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde has resigned from his post.
- Munde represents Parli in Beed district as an NCP legislator.
- Deputy CM Ajit Pawar met Fadnavis on Monday night.
According to sources, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar met CM Fadnavis on Monday night to discuss the implications of the CID charge sheet filed in the Deshmukh murder case and two related cases. The charge sheet identifies Valmik Karad as Accused No. 1.
Resignation Submitted Through PA
Munde’s personal assistant, Prashant Joshi, submitted his resignation at CM Fadnavis’ official residence. Following this, CM Fadnavis confirmed the resignation and stated that it had been forwarded to the Governor.
CM Fadnavis Asked for Munde’s Resignation
Sources reveal that CM Fadnavis had asked Dhananjay Munde to step down from his ministerial position. Munde, who was previously the guardian minister of Beed, currently represents the NCP under Ajit Pawar’s leadership. Presently, Ajit Pawar serves as the guardian minister of both Pune and Beed districts.
The Case Background
Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh from Masajog village in Beed was allegedly abducted, tortured, and murdered on December 9 last year. The incident reportedly occurred after he tried to prevent an extortion attempt targeting an energy company in the region.
The State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) filed a charge sheet of over 1,200 pages in a Beed district court on February 27 regarding Deshmukh’s murder and two related cases.
Three Cases Registered at the Police Station
The accused in the murder case, the attempted extortion from Avada Company, and the attack on the firm’s security guard have been charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). So far, seven people have been arrested under MCOCA, while one accused remains absconding.
