Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde tendered his resignation on Tuesday (March 4, 2025), after Chief Minisiter Devendra Fadnavis asked him to. The move comes amid growing clamour seeking his resignation, after his close aide Walmik Karad being named as an accused in sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case.
I have accepted the resignation and have sent it to the Governor for further action, Mr. Fadnavis said.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said Mr. Munde has resigned on moral grounds.
Mr. Munde, in the eye of the storm, was asked to resign by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday (March 4, 2025).
The move comes amid growing clamour by the Opposition, seeking his resignation. A day after fresh images from the chargesheet of Santosh Deshmukh murder case emerged, showing the barbarity with which the murder had taken place in Beed, the decision was taken.
The Chief Minister had earlier said on the floor of the House that strict action will be taken against those found guilty. It is noteworthy that Mr. Munde hasn’t been named in the case, but is closely associated to Karad, who is alleged to be the mastermind of the gruesome murder.
The Opposition has been demanding the resignations of Mr. Munde and Manikrao Kokate.
Mr. Munde, the State Food and Civil Supplies Minister, is the NCP MLA from Parli in Beed district. He was earlier the Guardian Minister of Beed.
Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed, was abducted, tortured and murdered on December 9 last year allegedly for attempting to stop an extortion bid targeting an energy company in the district.
The State Crime Investigation Department (CID) on February 27 filed a more than 1,200-page chargesheet at a court in Beed district in Deshmukh’s murder and two related cases.
Three separate cases— murder of sarpanch, bid to extort money from Avaada company and assault on security guard of the firm— have been registered at Kej police station in Beed. The police have invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused in the cases.
Seven persons have been arrested so far and booked under the MCOCA. One of the accused is still at large.
