A special court in Maharashtra’s Beed district on Monday ruled that Walmik Karad, the main accused in the brutal killing of village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, appears to be part of an organized crime syndicate engaged in continuous unlawful activities.
Judge V.H. Patwadkar, presiding over the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) court, rejected Karad’s discharge plea last week.
The court cited evidence indicating that Karad and his associates filmed the attack on Deshmukh and even made video calls during the assault “to spread fear and establish the dominance of their gang.”
Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village, was abducted and tortured to death on December 9, 2023. Investigators allege he was targeted for opposing an extortion attempt aimed at Avaada Energy Pvt Ltd, an energy company operating in the region.
So far, 8 individuals, including Karad, have been arrested and charged under MCOCA, the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has submitted a comprehensive charge sheet spanning over 1,200 pages, covering the murder and two related offences.
In his plea for discharge, Karad claimed he was falsely implicated due to political rivalry. He also challenged the MCOCA charges, denying the existence of any crime syndicate and asserting that he was not affiliated with one.
The prosecution opposed the plea, detailing a calculated conspiracy in which Karad and his accomplices allegedly demanded ₹2 crore from Avaada Energy in exchange for allowing their operations to continue in Kaij Taluka.
When Deshmukh attempted to intervene, they allegedly abducted and fatally assaulted him before disposing of his body at Daithana Phata.
The court noted that witness testimonies, along with digital, electronic, and forensic evidence, strongly support the prosecution’s case. It also took into account Karad’s criminal history—20 cases in total, including seven within the past decade.
Judge Patwadkar stated that the motive, manner of the crime, and efforts to instill fear support the view that Karad was acting as part of an organised syndicate, justifying the application of MCOCA in the case.
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