PUNE/BEED: The murder of Massajog village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh has exposed an intricate and murky nexus between criminality and politics in Beed, linked to the burgeoning business of wind energy which has quietly transformed the economy of the drought-prone district.
Deshmukh, 45, who was abducted and murdered on December 9, had reportedly been at the centre of disputes around windmill operations and tried to intervene in an extortion bid by local villagers on a windmill firm, said Beed police officers involved in the probe before it was handed over to the criminal investigation department (CID) last week.
According to local police officers, the murder stemmed from a brawl between Deshmukh and the four accused arrested on December 6 from the site of a windmill energy project being executed by Avaada Energy in Massajog.
The police have filed three FIRs in connection with the incidents - one for Deshmukh's kidnapping-cum-murder; one for an assault on the firm's security guard; and one for an extortion bid worth ₹2 crore by local villagers from the firm that has set up a windmill project in Massajog. The state government has transferred all three cases to the CID.
According to the third FIR, of which Hindustan Times has seen a copy, on December 6, the four persons went to the project site and allegedly abused and assaulted a security guard and the project manager after they were refused entry. The guard, who belongs to Massajog village, alerted Deshmukh as the village sarpanch. He rushed to the site along with a few villagers and the two groups engaged in a brief clash, said police.
Subsequently, the project manager of Avaada Energy lodged a complaint of assault and attempt to trespass based on which an FIR was registered.
This story is from the January 01, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times East UP.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 01, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times East UP.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
I don't need to prove anything to anyone: Axar Patel
A contender to take veteran Ravindra Jadeja's place permanently at some point, spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel is aware of the possibilities that may arise during India's big Test transition but he doesn't feel the need to prove \"anything to anyone\" to make his case.
Donald Trump 2.0 and the limits of CEO as president
Donald J Trump has officially become the 47th President of the United States (US).
Left knee strapped, Md Shami lets his pace talk at India nets
Master of swing and seam warms up for big battles
NMDC to resume diamond mining near Panna reserve
India's state-run miner NMDC is expected to extract 6,500 carats of diamonds, worth $3.4 million, this fiscal year from ores in a mine near a tiger reserve, after receiving mining clearances last year, two sources said.
Truce to peace, the challenge in Gaza
Sustained international engagement and goodwill from all parties will be essential to build on the Hamas-Israel ceasefire deal
Sensex, Nifty rally on gains in banking, firm global cues
SENSEX JUMPED 0.59% TO SETTLE AT 77,073.44, WHILE NIFTY CLIMBED 0.61% TO CLOSE AT 23,344.75 POINTS
Astronomical gains in penny stocks under Sebi lens
India's markets regulator is keeping a watch on penny stocks and micro-cap companies that have returned exponential gains in a short period, according to a senior official aware of the development, as the watchdog continues to increase scrutiny to protect small investors.
The bovine beliefs of a man of science
Veezhinathan Kamakoti loves cows. More so if they are indigenous breeds. He also believes that cow urine has medicinal value.
ED to use diplomatic channels for probe into ₹10,000 cr money laundering case
The Mumbai unit of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will use legal and diplomatic channels to trace the end recipients in its money-laundering case related to a network that is accused of orchestrating foreign remittances worth over ₹10,000 crore in an illegal manner.
TikTok Restores US Service After Trump Says 'Have To Save It'
TikTok restored its services on Sunday after President-elect Donald Trump said he would revive the app's access in the US when he returns to power on Monday.
