Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde Resigns Amid Sarpanch Murder Row

Dhananjay Munde Resigns: Nationalist Congress Party leader Dhananjay Munde on Tuesday resigned as a minister in the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led Cabinet.

Munde held the portfolios of food and civil supplies and was apparently asked to step down on the instructions of the Chief Minister after his aide Walmik Karad was arrested for his alleged role in the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed.

Although Munde was not directly linked to the case, calls for his resignation intensified after the Massajog village murder. So far, seven people, including Karad, have been arrested, while one person remains at large.

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A "deeply saddened" Mr Munde said his 'inner voice' had led him to offer his resignation, which Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has accepted.

In a post on X, Mr Munde said it had always been his demand that those guilty for the torture and killing of Santosh Deshmukh get the "harshest punishment". He also claimed ill health - last month he said he had been diagnosed with Bell's Palsy - as a reason for his resignation.

"This morning, I received the resignation letter from Dhananjay Munde as a minister. I have accepted his resignation and sent it to the Governor's office for further action," CM Fadnavis said speaking to reporters.

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Ramdas Athawale, leader of the Republican Party of India and an NDA ally, commented on the situation, stating that Karad, the key accused in the case, was known to be close to Munde. He noted that while no direct evidence connects Munde to the crime, the demand for his resignation was growing. “Ajitdada needs to think about this. The accused in the murder case was close to Munde, and therefore, he should resign on moral grounds,” Athawale told TOI.

"I think Dhananjay Munde and Valmik Karad had a close relationship. There is no evidence that Munde had any connection (to the crime), but there is a demand that he resign. Ajitdada needs to think about this. The accused in the murder case was close to Munde and, therefore, he should resign on moral grounds," said Athawale, as reported by TOI.

Massajog murder case: Details of the crime

Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was abducted and brutally murdered in December 2024 for attempting to prevent an extortion attempt on an energy company. According to the chargesheet filed by the Maharashtra CID in Beed district, the assailants recorded 15 videos, took eight photos, and even made two video calls while torturing Deshmukh. His body, bearing severe injuries and signs of extreme brutality, was later found dumped on the roadside.

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