Beed, February 21 The brother of the murdered Beed sarpanch, Santosh Deshmukh, claimed that the absconding accused, Krishna Andhale, had visited his native village here three times in the past six months.
Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was tortured and murdered on December 9, 2024, for opposing an extortion attempt by an energy firm involved in a wind power project in the area.
The investigation into the case, which made national headlines, led to the arrest of the main accused, Walmik Karad, a close aide of former minister and NCP leader, Dhananjay Munde, and others, but Andhale remains at large. Andhale is from Maindwadi village in Dharur tehsil here.
The deceased sarpanch's brother, Dhananjay Deshmukh, said that Andhale has visited his native village three times in the past six months, adding that he has informed this information to the local police and the CID.
"Andhale's presence in the area poses a grave threat to my family," he said.
Meanwhile, the hearing in the sarpanch murder case took place in a court here on Saturday, with the prosecution being led by assistant public prosecutor Balasaheb Kolhe in the absence of special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.
In the next hearing scheduled for March 6, Deshmukh told reporters outside the court that the attachment of the properties of the accused would be sought.