The defence in the Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case told a court in Maharashtra’s Beed district on Wednesday that they had not received statements from the accused/witnesses.
Accused Produced Virtually In Court
During the first hearing at a court in Kej, the accused were presented virtually. So far, seven people have been arrested, including Walmik Karad, a close aide of former state minister Dhananjay Munde. One accused remains on the run.
Defence Demands Case Documents
Advocate Anant Tidke, representing accused Sudarshan Ghule, stated that they had not received statements of witnesses, the accused, or video evidence. He emphasized their right to access complete case documents, claiming that the papers provided so far were incomplete.
Assistant Government Prosecutor Balasaheb Kolhe informed the media that the court had granted time until March 26 for the prosecution to respond to the defence’s request. Noted lawyer Ujjwal Nikam is the public prosecutor in the case.
Case Background & Arrests
Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed, was abducted, tortured, and murdered on December 9, 2024. His killing is allegedly linked to his efforts to prevent an extortion attempt targeting an energy company.
The arrested suspects include:
Walmik Karad
Sudarshan Ghule
Vishnu Chate
Jairam Chate
Mahesh Kedar
Sudhir Sangale
Prateek Ghule
One suspect, Krishna Andhale, remains at large.
Five Secret Witnesses Provide Testimonies
Investigators have recorded statements from five secret witnesses, who have detailed the criminal activities of Karad and his associates in Beed district. The case has also placed a spotlight on Dhananjay Munde, a senior NCP leader who resigned as a state minister earlier this month.
With the next hearing scheduled for March 26, the focus now shifts to the prosecution’s response to the defence’s demands.
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