Maharashtra police on Saturday arrested two more accused in connection with the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. The development comes a day after the Special Investigation Team interrogated those close to the absconding men.
According to police, the accused Sudarshan Chandrabhan Ghule (26) and Sudhir Sangle (23) were absconding and they were arrested from Dhule, Maharashtra. Dhule police nabbed the duo and they were handed over to the SIT probing the case.
Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village, was allegedly abducted, tortured and murdered on December 9 for attempting to stop an extortion bid on an energy firm helming a windmill project in the region. Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde’s aide Walmik Karad has also been arrested in connection with the case. Karad surrendered on Tuesday and he has been remanded to judicial custody.
The development comes a day after SIT interrogated three persons regarding the whereabouts of the absconding accused. According to police, those questioned reportedly helped the accused flee after the crime.
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The murder has become a fresh flashpoint between the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition in Maharashtra. The opposition has sought Minister Munde’s resignation over his aide’s alleged role in the murder.
The Maharashtra government has announced a judicial probe into the matter and the report is likely to submitted within six months. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said all those directly or indirectly involved in the case will be punished. Addressing the Maharashtra Assembly, Fadnavis said action will taken against Karad if his involvement in the murder is established.
