Dhananjay Munde Resigns: Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde resigned on Tuesday (March 4, 2025) following a directive from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. His resignation comes amid mounting pressure after his close aide, Walmik Karad, was named as an accused in the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case.
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.
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.
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.