03 January,2025 11:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sunil Tatkare. File Pic
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state president Sunil Tatkare on Friday said whosoever is guilty in the Beed sarpanch murder case should face trial in a fast-track court and get the strictest punishment, reported the PTI.
Tatkare, however, parried a question on whether NCP minister Dhananjay Munde will be asked to resign as his close aide Walmik Karad is at the centre of a controversy and is an accused in an extortion case linked to the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh's murder.
The opposition has been demanding that Walmik Karad be booked for Santosh Deshmukh's murder. He has been booked in an extortion case.
Santosh Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village in Kej taluka of Beed district, was abducted and tortured to death on December 9, allegedly for opposing an extortion bid by some persons who had demanded money from a windmill company, according to the PTI.
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"The incident (murder of Deshmukh) is a blot on humanity. NCP's stand is that the matter should be thoroughly probed and anyone even remotely connected to the incident should be brought before the public," Sunil Tatkare said.
When asked whether Munde will be asked to resign, Tatkare said, "I don't want to express any political opinion about this. Will Dhanajay Munde be asked to resign?
"I have been saying this that the government has announced an SIT, a CID and a judicial probe which is happening at a fast pace. The probe will determine who the accused are. Whosoever is guilty should get strictest punishment through a fast track court," he said, as per the PTI.
Sunil Tatkare was speaking after a meeting with office-bearers of the frontal organisations of the party. The meeting was attended by NCP MP Sunetra Pawar.
Asked about NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who has been sulking after being excluded from the cabinet, Tarkare said, "I spoke to Bhujbal, (his nephew) Sameer and (son) Pankaj. After that, Bhujbal left for abroad. I was also out for six-seven days."
We will take a decision on it tomorrow or the day after, he said, without elaborating further.
Tatkare said the party will be holding a conclave of its officer-bearers, including MPs and MLAs, in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on January 18-19.
(with PTI inputs)
