Min Munde's aide Karad surrenders; Fadnavis says nobody will be spared

SARPANCH MURDER CASE

MUMBAI/PUNE: Taking a stern stance against "gunda raj," Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday asserted that nobody would be spared in the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case in Beed, warning that such activities would not be tolerated.

Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis said he had a telephonic conversation with Deshmukh's brother and assured him that justice would prevail in the case.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde's close aide Walmik Karad, wanted in an extortion case linked to the murder of the sarpanch in Beed district, surrendered before the police in Pune. Four persons had earlier been arrested in the murder case, while Karad was named as a wanted accused in the extortion case. Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village, was abducted, tortured, and brutally killed on December 9, allegedly for opposing an extortion bid by some persons who had demanded money from a windmill company in Beed district.

"I spoke with the brother of the late Santosh Deshmukh and told him that he should not worry. Until the guilty are hanged to death, the police will continue to do their duty," CM Fadnavis said.

"All individuals involved in the Beed case will face prosecution. We will not tolerate 'gunda raj' (rule of criminals).