NEW DELHI: Maharastra Police Two more men accused of Beed Sarpanch’s murder were arrested on Saturday. Santosh Deshmukhwho was tortured to death.
The accused were identified as Sudarshan Ghule and Sudhir Sangle, news agency PTI reported quoting the police.
The police arrested the accused three days after the state government formed a 10-member SIT, headed by deputy inspector general of CID Basavraj Teli, to probe Deshmukh’s murder.
Before the SIT was established, one Valmik Karad was booked in a case of extortion offer related to the murder and handed over before the CID. He was subsequently sent to 14 days of police custody.
The opposition alleged that Karad is the main accused in the case, although it maintained that he was a victim of “political revenge“.
Karad is a close aide of the Food and Civil Supplies Minister. Dhananjay Munde of the PNC. His alleged involvement in the crime created a political storm across the state. Consequently, the opposition demanded Munde’s dismissal from the state cabinet.
CM’s aide Devendra Fadnavis and BJP MLA Abhimanyu Pawar have also joined the protests.
Valmiki Karad is from the Vanjari community, which has an exclusive reservation of 2.5% in the OBC quota.
Its members have resisted the inclusion of Marathas in the OBC quota.
Who was Santosh Deshmukh?
A popular figure in masajog villagedescribed as friendly and approachable. He had a master’s degree. He entered active politics in 2013. In 2017, his wife Ashwini won the sarpanch polls. In 2022, he was followed by Deshmukh, who won the elections by a huge majority.
Under the couple’s leadership, Massajog won 19 awards in 7 years, including recognition for having the best water supply and sanitation systems in Marathwada.