Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde Resigns Amid Political Uproar Over Sarpanch's Murder

Maharashtra’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Dhananjay Munde, resigned from his post on Tuesday following mounting political pressure over the brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accepted Munde’s resignation before heading to the legislative assembly session.

Munde’s resignation came in response to relentless demands from opposition parties, who had warned that they would disrupt the assembly session unless he stepped down. Announcing the decision in the House, CM Fadnavis stated that Munde had resigned voluntarily, and his resignation letter had been forwarded to the governor for further action.

High-Level Meeting Seals Munde’s Fate

The decision was finalized following a late-night meeting at Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s official residence, Devgiri Bungalow, on Monday. The meeting was attended by Fadnavis, Pawar, state minister Sunil Tatkare, and Munde himself. With public outrage escalating, Fadnavis reportedly conveyed to Munde that stepping down was necessary to contain the political fallout for the Mahayuti government.

The controversy centers around Valmik Karad, a close associate of Munde, whose alleged involvement in Deshmukh’s murder intensified calls for the minister’s resignation. Karad, a key figure in Munde’s political network, has been named in the case, further fueling public and opposition demands for action.

Disturbing Footage Intensifies Backlash

Public anger escalated after disturbing images and videos of Deshmukh’s murder surfaced on social media. The visuals, retrieved from the mobile phone of accused Mahesh Kedar, showed Deshmukh being stripped, brutally assaulted, and ultimately killed. Reports suggest that the attackers even celebrated their actions, worsening the outrage.

Police have recovered approximately 15 videos and eight photographs from Kedar’s phone, allegedly featuring Sudarshan Ghule and other accused individuals participating in the crime. The graphic nature of the footage has added to the political storm surrounding the case.

Political Repercussions and Ongoing Investigation

Initially, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar defended Munde, insisting that he had no direct involvement in the crime. However, as pressure mounted and damning evidence emerged, the government was compelled to act. Fadnavis, who had earlier left the decision to Munde’s party, ultimately took a firm stance.