March 4, 2025: Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde has resigned from his position after his close aide, Walmik Karad, was arrested in connection with the murder of a sarpanch in Beed district. Munde, who held the Food and Civil Supplies portfolio, stepped down following directions from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, as political pressure mounted over his aide’s alleged involvement in the crime.

Chief Minister Fadnavis confirmed the resignation, stating that it had been accepted and forwarded to Governor CP Radhakrishnan. The decision was made after a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, where they discussed the political fallout of the case, especially after the state’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) filed a chargesheet detailing Karad’s alleged role in the murder.

Dhananjay Munde, a senior leader of Ajit Pawar's faction of the NCP, has been a key political figure in Maharashtra. Representing the Parli constituency in Beed, he is the nephew of the late BJP veteran Gopinath Munde and the cousin of Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde. Having joined the NCP in 2013, he chose to side with Ajit Pawar when the party split in 2023. Over the years, he has held several significant positions, including Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council and a minister in the Uddhav Thackeray government.

The case that led to his resignation revolves around the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the 45-year-old sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed. According to the CID investigation, Deshmukh was abducted, tortured, and killed on December 9, 2024, after he attempted to stop an extortion attempt targeting Avaada, an energy company. The chargesheet, which spans 1,200 pages, was submitted to a district court on February 27, revealing crucial details about the crime.

Three cases have been registered in connection with the murder, the extortion attempt, and an assault on a security guard at the firm. The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) has been invoked against eight accused, seven of whom have been arrested, while one remains absconding. Among the arrested individuals is Karad, whose alleged involvement has intensified scrutiny on Munde, ultimately forcing him to resign.

With legal proceedings underway and political ripples spreading across Maharashtra, the case has become a major test for the state government, raising concerns about the intersection of crime and politics in the region.