In a significant development in the brutal murder of Massajog village Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, a special court in Beed, Maharashtra, has rejected the discharge application of Walmik Karad, the principal accused in the case. The court ruled that there is prima facie evidence of Karad’s deep involvement in a well-structured organised crime syndicate and in the “continuing unlawful activities” that led to Deshmukh’s abduction and murder.
The detailed order, passed on July 22 by Special MCOCA Judge V.H. Patwadkar, underscores Karad’s alleged role as a shadow operator who directed the assault from behind the scenes and maintained operational control over his co-accused. According to the report of Hindustan Times, the court found that the accused had filmed the violent attack on Deshmukh and made video calls during the act — a deliberate attempt to instil fear and assert the dominance of their gang.
Background: A murder tied to an extortion racket
Deshmukh, aged 45, was kidnapped, tortured, and killed on December 9, 2023, allegedly for opposing an extortion demand of ₹2 crore made to Avaada Energy Private Limited by Karad and his associates. The company was operating wind energy projects in Kaij taluka, a region where local political-criminal networks have increasingly targeted renewable energy ventures for extortion.
According to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which took over the probe due to the case’s high-profile nature, Deshmukh had attempted to shield the company from this illegal pressure. In response, as reported by Mid-day, Karad and his co-accused allegedly conspired to eliminate him. After being abducted, Deshmukh was brutally beaten, with the assault recorded and live-streamed to Karad. His body was later dumped near Daithana Phata, and the assailants fled the scene.
Detailed background may be read here.
Charges, evidence, and organised crime angle
Karad and seven other accused have been charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and relevant provisions of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The CID has filed a 1,200-page chargesheet detailing the conspiracy, digital footprints, phone data, video recordings, forensic reports, and witness statements.
As per The Hindu, Rejecting Karad’s discharge plea, the court stated: “The statements of witnesses, electronic, digital, scientific, forensic evidence, etc., prima facie show the complicity of the applicant. It appears that he has been a member of the organised crime syndicate and was involved in continuing unlawful activities. Therefore, there are sufficient grounds to proceed against the applicant. The accused is not entitled to be discharged.”
Karad’s Defence: Claims of political vendetta and procedural gaps
Karad, known to be a close aide of former NCP minister Dhananjay Munde, had filed the discharge application claiming he was being framed for political reasons. He questioned the validity of the MCOCA sanction granted in February 2025, alleging procedural irregularities. He further argued that of the 20 past cases cited by the prosecution, he had been acquitted or discharged in nearly 15, including one case in which the Bombay High Court reversed his conviction on appeal.
He also asserted that the police failed to establish any specific role linking him to the crime or to any larger syndicate.
Prosecution rebuts, cites criminal history and control over co-accused
Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, opposing Karad’s plea, strongly defended the use of MCOCA and accused the defence of stalling proceedings through repeated discharge pleas. According to the report of The Hindu, he argued that Karad was the mastermind who controlled the operation remotely, threatening his co-accused for not executing the plan swiftly.
“This is a modus operandi to obstruct the course of justice,” Nikam told the court. “If his name is dropped, it would embolden the crime syndicate and compromise law and order.”
The prosecution highlighted that Karad had been booked in 20 criminal cases, including serious charges such as attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, and unlawful assembly — with seven cases registered within the last 10 years alone. The cumulative pattern of criminal conduct was presented as proof of his leadership in an organised crime syndicate.
Draft charges and consolidated discharge plea
On July 22, alongside the rejection of Karad’s discharge plea, the prosecution submitted draft charges against all eight accused, proposing 12 to 13 charges per individual. However, the court clarified it would consider these only after adjudicating the pending discharge pleas of the remaining seven accused.
In a critical move to prevent further delays, the court directed that all remaining accused must now file a consolidated discharge application, rejecting the tactic of multiple, piecemeal filings.
A separate prosecution plea seeking asset seizure from the accused has been reserved for a future order.
Political Fallout: Demands for CBI probe in parliament
The case has triggered intense political ripples in Maharashtra. Supriya Sule, MP and Working President of NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), raised the issue during Zero Hour in Parliament, demanding a CBI investigation into the murders of Santosh Deshmukh and Mahadev Munde, a trader found murdered in Beed in October 2023.
“These brutal, inhuman killings have shocked the state. Beed has always stood for dignity and progress. I urge the Union Home Minister to order a CBI inquiry into both murders,” Sule said, accusing the Maharashtra Home Department of inertia.
Karad’s proximity to Dhananjay Munde, who resigned from the Maharashtra cabinet in March 2025 following allegations of his links to Karad, has further intensified calls for accountability. Munde, despite stepping down, continues to occupy the official ministerial bungalow ‘Satpuda’, delaying its transfer to his successor Chhagan Bhujbal. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, when questioned, said he was unaware of the penalty levied for Munde’s overstay.
Conclusion
The Beed Sarpanch murder case has become a litmus test for Maharashtra’s ability to tackle organised crime with political overtones. With the discharge plea of the key accused now rejected and the court acknowledging the presence of a structured syndicate, the focus shifts to upcoming hearings and the fate of the remaining accused. The case is poised to remain in the spotlight — not only for its legal implications but for what it reveals about the murky intersections of crime, politics, caste and power in Maharashtra.
Related:
Beed, Marathwada: A heady and dangerous mix of mafia-political nexus has tainted the social fabric