Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde resigned from his post on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asked him to step down. His resignation came after growing demands from the Opposition, following the naming of his close aide, Walmik Karad, as an accused in the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.
Chief Minister Fadnavis confirmed, “I have accepted his resignation and sent it to the Governor for further action.”
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that Mr. Munde resigned on moral grounds. Meanwhile, Mr. Munde posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he stepped down due to health issues. In his Marathi post, he also expressed sadness over certain images that were circulated the previous day.
According to sources, the decision came after new images from the case surfaced, showing the brutal nature of Deshmukh’s murder. The Opposition had been demanding Mr. Munde’s resignation, along with that of Manikrao Kokate.
Although Mr. Munde is not directly named in the case, his close connection to Walmik Karad—who is accused of planning the murder—has raised questions. Earlier, Chief Minister Fadnavis assured in the Assembly that strict action would be taken against those found guilty.
Mr. Munde, who was the State Food and Civil Supplies Minister, is an NCP MLA from Parli in Beed district and was previously the Guardian Minister of Beed.
Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, from Massajog village in Beed, was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered on December 9, 2024. Reports suggest he was targeted for trying to stop an extortion attempt against an energy company in the district.
On February 27, 2025, the State Crime Investigation Department (CID) submitted a 1,200-page charge sheet in a Beed court regarding Deshmukh’s murder and two related cases.
Three cases have been registered at Kej police station in Beed:
- The murder of Santosh Deshmukh
- An extortion attempt on Avaada Energy Company
- An assault on the company’s security guard
The police have applied the strict Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused. Seven people have been arrested so far, while one accused is still on the run.
