New Delhi: The murder case of Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh from Massajog in Beed has garnered significant attention, after police chargesheet claimed that the assailants recorded 15 videos, clicked eight photos and even made two video calls. Amid the controversy and public outcry, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reportedly instructed minister Dhananjay Munde to resign immediately.
Dhananjay Munde has faced repeated accusations in the Santosh Deshmukh murder case, with calls for his resignation growing louder. Recently, Manoj Jarange Patil called for Fadnavis and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar to remove him from his position. After the disturbing photos related to the murder case emerged, CM Fadnavis and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar held a crucial meeting in Devgiri on Monday night. Sources revealed that they reached a consensus that Munde would eventually have to quit. CM Fadnavis has reportedly ordered Munde to step down. However, all eyes are now on whether Munde will resign on Tuesday.
CID filed 1,800-page chargesheet
The brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh in December sparked widespread public outcry across the state, as the accused allegedly exhibited extreme cruelty. In response, the state government formed both an SIT and CID to investigate the case. On Saturday, the CID filed an 1,800-page chargesheet. However, on Monday night, disturbing videos and photos of Deshmukh’s murder surfaced, coinciding with the ongoing budget session of the Legislative Assembly. This has heated up the political climate in the state.
Valmik Karad, the main mastermind behind Deshmukh’s murder, is a close associate of Munde. There had been ongoing calls for Munde’s resignation over this issue, but the government had previously rejected his resignation. However, after the disturbing photos emerged on Monday, political developments took a dramatic turn. Following the release of these photos and videos, a meeting was held on Monday night at Devgiri Bungalow, attended by Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare, and Dhananjay Munde. After the meeting, sources revealed that Fadnavis instructed Munde to resign, specifically urging him to step down on Tuesday.
During the meeting on Monday, Chief Minister Fadnavis spoke directly with Dhananjay Munde, urging him to resign by the following day. Reports also indicate that Ajit Pawar attempted to persuade Munde to step down. According to sources, Fadnavis had been firm about Munde’s resignation from the outset, but Munde was unwilling to resign. As a result, Fadnavis instructed Ajit Pawar to make the final decision. Ultimately, Fadnavis told Munde to resign on Tuesday. Despite the Chief Minister’s order, all eyes remain on whether Dhananjay Munde will quit on Tuesday.