The Beed Court in Maharashtra rejected the discharge plea filed by Walmik Karad, the main accused in the chilling murder of a Beed sarpanch, Santosh Deshmukh, saying prima facie evidence reflects his involvement in the organised crime syndicate.
The Special Judge V.H. Patwadkar heard his plea on July 22 and in the detailed order released this week said, “The statements of witnesses, electronic, digital, scientific, forensic, evidence etc. prima facie shows complicity of the applicant as it appears he have been member of the organized crime syndicate and was involved in continuing unlawful activities. Therefore, there are sufficient grounds to proceed against the applicant. Hence, the accused is not entitled to be discharged.”
Mr. Karad was booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) along with seven other accused in the murder case of Santosh Deshmukh on December 9, last year. Mr. Karad is known to be a close aide of former agriculture minister and Ajit-Pawar-led NCP leader Dhananjay Munde.
The prosecution in the court argued that accused Walmik Karad conspired with co-accused persons, demanding a ransom of ₹2 crores from the officials of the company Avaada Energy Private Ltd. “Deceased Santosh Deshmukh tried to intervene and prevent the accused persons from closing the work of the company in the village Massajog in Beed. In order to teach a permanent lesson to deceased Santosh Deshmukh, the suspect, along with co-accused persons, allegedly hatched a conspiracy,” said the prosecution in the order.
The prosecution also cited that Mr. Karad acted as a director from behind the scenes and got the crime done through co-accused persons. “Mr. Karad was all the while threatening co-accused persons as to why they failed to do the assigned work as conspired. Video recording, FSL report go to show the complicity of the Karad,” said Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, adding if his name is dropped, then this can pose a problem to law and order.
Whereas Karad filed the discharge plea, arguing he was framed falsely for political reasons and also mentioned that his role in the syndicated crime was not specified. He also alleged that the police did not reveal that among the 20 cases filed against him, in almost 15 cases, his name is clear, and the “Bombay High Court also acquitted him in the appeal stage”.
Published – July 29, 2025 02:40 am IST
