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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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
