Mumbai, March 4: The gruesome murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Maharashtra's Beed district, has been further detailed in a chargesheet submitted by the Crime Investigation Department (CID). The document reveals that the assailants recorded 15 videos, captured eight photographs, and even made two video calls while torturing the victim before killing him in December 2024.
Deshmukh was abducted on December 9 from the Dongaon toll plaza by six men and transported in an SUV towards Kej taluka, followed by a silver Swift car. Hours later, he was found unconscious with severe injuries at Daithna Shivar near Nandur Ghat Road. Despite being rushed to a hospital by a police search team, he was declared dead on arrival.
One of the videos reportedly shows five accused, including Sudarshan Ghule, beating Deshmukh with a white pipe and a wooden stick while also kicking and punching him. Another clip captures Ghule forcing the sarpanch to chant “Sudarshan Ghule is the father of all,” while an unidentified accused urinates on him as he bleeds profusely.
Further investigations reveal that key suspects Ghule, Walmik Karad (a close aide of state minister Dhananjay Munde), and Vishnu Chate were in contact before and after Deshmukh’s murder.
Authorities have recovered 15 broken pieces of the white pipe used in the assault from the crime scene, further solidifying the forensic evidence against the accused.
With damning evidence now in the public domain, the legal system faces immense pressure to ensure justice for Santosh Deshmukh and his family.
Chilling Evidence Uncovered
According to the chargesheet, these disturbing videos and photos serve as damning evidence of the extreme brutality inflicted upon Deshmukh. The footage, recorded on the smartphone of accused Mahesh Kedar, varies in duration from as short as two seconds to over two minutes.Deshmukh was abducted on December 9 from the Dongaon toll plaza by six men and transported in an SUV towards Kej taluka, followed by a silver Swift car. Hours later, he was found unconscious with severe injuries at Daithna Shivar near Nandur Ghat Road. Despite being rushed to a hospital by a police search team, he was declared dead on arrival.
Relentless Torture: 2.5 Hours of Brutality
The chargesheet describes the horrific sequence of events between 3:30 PM and 6:00 PM on the day of the crime. Deshmukh was subjected to relentless torture using a 41-inch-long gas pipe, an iron rod with five clutch wires, wooden sticks, and sharp weapons called fighter and dharkatti.One of the videos reportedly shows five accused, including Sudarshan Ghule, beating Deshmukh with a white pipe and a wooden stick while also kicking and punching him. Another clip captures Ghule forcing the sarpanch to chant “Sudarshan Ghule is the father of all,” while an unidentified accused urinates on him as he bleeds profusely.
Connections to Organized Crime
The chargesheet also sheds light on a deeper criminal nexus. Accused Sudarshan Ghule is said to run a crime syndicate in Beed district, with 11 serious cases registered against his gang. The group operates actively in Kej, Ambajogai, Dharur (Beed district), and Kalamb (Dharashiv district).Further investigations reveal that key suspects Ghule, Walmik Karad (a close aide of state minister Dhananjay Munde), and Vishnu Chate were in contact before and after Deshmukh’s murder.
Links to an Earlier Extortion Case
The motive behind the sarpanch’s killing is linked to an earlier extortion attempt. In May 2024, Ghule had kidnapped Sunil Shinde, a project officer with an energy firm, in a failed bid to extract money. Shinde later filed a police complaint, which led to heightened scrutiny of Ghule's criminal activities. Deshmukh, who reportedly opposed the extortion bid, became a target for the gang.Ongoing Investigation and Arrests
So far, seven men, including Walmik Karad, have been arrested, while one suspect, Krishna Andhale, remains absconding. Notably, during Deshmukh’s torture, Andhale allegedly made two WhatsApp video calls at 5:14 PM and 5:26 PM. However, the chargesheet does not disclose the recipient of these calls.Authorities have recovered 15 broken pieces of the white pipe used in the assault from the crime scene, further solidifying the forensic evidence against the accused.
Legal Proceedings and Implications
The case has sparked outrage in Maharashtra, with political and legal ramifications expected as it unfolds. The involvement of a close associate of a state minister raises concerns about political-criminal nexus in the region. As the trial progresses, further revelations may expose the extent of organized crime's grip on Beed district.With damning evidence now in the public domain, the legal system faces immense pressure to ensure justice for Santosh Deshmukh and his family.
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