Brutal torture before murder: Sarpanch beaten, urinated on in Maharashtra killing
Mumbai: The shocking murder of Maharashtra village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh has exposed a case of extreme brutality, with police revealing that he was tortured for over two hours before being killed. The accused, linked to a political extortion racket, recorded videos of the assault, showing them beating him with rods, urinating on him, and making video calls to document the crime.
Hours of brutality captured on video
On 9 December 2024, Deshmukh was abducted from Dongaon toll plaza in Beed district by six men in an SUV. He was taken towards Kej taluka, where he was subjected to prolonged torture. According to the police chargesheet, he was beaten with an iron rod, gas pipe, wooden sticks, and sharp weapons for more than two hours.
The attackers filmed at least 15 videos and took eight photos of the assault. One of the videos shows five men thrashing Deshmukh with a white pipe and a wooden stick while he lay half-naked, bleeding profusely. Another video captures one of the accused urinating on him as he struggled for life. The attackers even made two video calls to document their actions in real-time.
Later that evening, Deshmukh was found unconscious at Daithna Shivar and was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead.
Extortion and political links
Deshmukh’s killing was linked to a ₹2 crore extortion attempt targeting Avaada, a Mumbai-based wind energy company operating in Beed’s Massajog village. He had opposed local criminal Sudarshan Ghule’s attempts to force the company to pay up, fearing it would drive away businesses and impact villagers' livelihoods. This resistance made him a target.
The police investigation named Walmik Karad, a close aide of then Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde, as the mastermind. Karad allegedly directed the accused to "eliminate anyone who came in the way of the extortion bid."
Political fallout and resignation
As chilling details emerged, the opposition demanded action. The 1,200-page Crime Investigation Department (CID) chargesheet and viral videos of the torture put immense pressure on the Maharashtra government. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, after discussions with Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, moved to contain the damage, leading to Dhananjay Munde’s resignation.
Munde, in his resignation statement, called for the harshest punishment for the accused and cited personal health reasons for stepping down.
Caste tensions in Marathwada
The murder has also deepened caste tensions in the region. Deshmukh, a Maratha, had supported BJP leader Pankaja Munde in the last elections. Meanwhile, the accused—Karad, Ghule, and Vishnu Chate—are from the Vanjari community. Several Maratha leaders, including BJP’s Suresh Dhas, have since demanded justice for Deshmukh.
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