• Source:JND
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Maharashtra state minister Dhananjay Munde resigned on Tuesday following mounting controversy over the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed Munde's resignation and forwarded it to Governor C P Radhakrishnan for further processing. The decision was announced at the Vidhan Bhavan, ending Munde’s departure from his role as the minister for food and civil supplies.

Dhananjay Munde’s resignation came after his close aide, Walmik Karad, was named in the chargesheet as the mastermind behind Deshmukh’s brutal killing. Deshmukh was abducted, tortured and murdered in December 2024, allegedly for opposing an extortion racket linked to an energy company in Beed. Viral videos and screenshots further intensified public outcry, prompting calls for Munde’s resignation.

In a post on X, Munde expressed deep sorrow over Deshmukh’s murder and reiterated his call for the harshest punishment for the perpetrators. He stated that the judicial inquiry was already in motion and cited health reasons for stepping down. ''My health has not been good, and doctors have advised me to undergo treatment. Therefore, for medical reasons as well, I have submitted my resignation,'' Munde wrote.

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Santosh Deshmukh Murder Case 

Deshmukh, 25, the sarpanch of Massajog village, was abducted on December 9, 2024, at Dongaon toll plaza. He was taken in an SUV while a silver Swift car followed closely. Later that evening, his unconscious body, bearing signs of extreme torture, was discovered on Nandur Ghat Road. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Brutal Torture Detailed In Chargesheet 

The chargesheet reveals that Deshmukh was subjected to extreme brutality by his assailants, who documented the ordeal through 15 videos and eight photos. The attackers, including Sudarshan Ghule, used a 41-inch gas pipe, iron rods, wooden sticks, and sharp weapons to beat him. One video reportedly shows Deshmukh being forced to chant, “Sudarshan Ghule is the father of all,” while another depicts an accused urinating on the bleeding sarpanch.

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The Opposition escalated demands for Munde’s removal after the chargesheet and graphic images of the crime surfaced online. The minister, who also served as Beed’s guardian minister, faced scrutiny over his association with the accused. Late-night discussions between CM Fadnavis and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar reportedly led to Munde's decision to step down. Ajit Pawar also held a separate meeting with Munde before the resignation was submitted.