Beed, Maharashtra: The murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the Massajog village sarpanch in Maharashtra’s Beed district, has been traced to a failed extortion attempt for a windmill project. Investigations have established that Deshmukh’s refusal to comply with extortion threats from local hoods might have resulted in his murder.
Deshmukh was attacked and murdered last September. Police say the reason behind the crime became clear while questioning the accused. Eight individuals, including Dhananjay Munde’s close aide Walmik Karad, have been arrested so far in connection with the case. Karad is accused of leading the plot for the attack as Deshmukh did not oblige with extortion.
The investigators say Deshmukh had been facing pressure to make illegal payments for the windmill project. When he refused, the accused are said to have hatched the attack to kill him and scare others working on the project. The police have filed audio evidence and documentary evidence in support of their allegations with the court.
“The evidence include phone conversations and financial documents that establish a clear link between the accused and the extortion bid. Deshmukh’s defiance may have resulted in his death,” the senior police officer said.
The case has attracted much attention as Karad has strong political links. Munde has denied complicity, adding that Karad was acting on his own. Opposition leaders have, however, called for a proper probe, raising the issue of the potential political cover-up.
The government case is backed solidly with electronic evidence and statements of witnesses. “We have a watertight case and hope that the court would soon frame charges,” a government counsel said. The court would go on to finally frame the charges against the accused in April with the next date of hearing scheduled for April 10.
Deshmukh’s death has outraged the local community, with locals calling for immediate justice. His family demanded the maximum punishment for the perpetrators. “He was targeted because he opposed corruption and illegal work. We want the authorities to make sure that justice is served,” a family member said.
The case also shows the treacherous nexus of politics, business, and crime in Maharashtra. It has also evoked questions about the safety of local leaders who oppose unlawful dealings.
As the probe unfolds, officials are also looking for potential connections between the extortion syndicate and other political leaders. The police have also said that additional arrests could happen on the basis of more evidence.
The case will have political implications in Maharashtra, with opposition leaders promising to bring the issue to the state assembly. The political situation in the region could be greatly affected by the outcome of the court hearings.
The court’s move to put charges next month will be a key decision in deciding the direction of the investigation and the future of the accused.
