The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday rejected the bail application of Walmik Karad, the prime accused in the murder of Beed district sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, keeping him in judicial custody as investigations continue under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.
Karad, who is currently lodged in a jail in Beed district, had sought bail after a multi-day hearing before the High Court. His counsel, Dhananjay Patil, confirmed that while the court has turned down the plea, the detailed order is still awaited. According to Patil, arguments on behalf of Karad focused on the alleged absence of call detail records and the claim that his client was not directly involved in the crime. The court, however, was not persuaded and rejected the application.
Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, was abducted and tortured to death on December 9 last year. The killing is alleged to be linked to his attempt to stop an extortion bid targeting an energy company operating in the area. The case has since drawn wide attention due to the nature of the crime and the profiles of those allegedly involved.
So far, eight people, including Karad, have been arrested in connection with the murder. All the accused have been booked under the stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.
Reacting to the High Court’s decision, Deshmukh’s brother, Dhananjay Deshmukh, welcomed the rejection of the bail plea. He said the order marked the beginning of the process of justice in the case. He also opposed any move to re-induct NCP leader Dhananjay Munde into the state cabinet, pointing to the ongoing proceedings.
Munde had resigned as a minister in March this year after Karad, described as his close aide, surrendered and was subsequently arrested in the sarpanch murder case.
