Maharashtra CM Fadnavis asks Dhananjay Munde to resign as Minister

Maharashtra CM asks NCP Minister Dhananjay Munde to resign amid growing clamour over close aide's murder case involvement.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked NCP Minister Dhananjay Munde to resign today. The move comes amid growing clamour seeking his resignation, after his close aide Walmik Karad being named as an accused in sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case.

Mr. Munde, in the eye of the storm, was asked to resign by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday (March 4, 2025), top sources told The Hindu.

The move comes amid growing clamour by the Opposition, seeking his resignation. A day after fresh images from the chargesheet of Santosh Deshmukh murder case emerged, showing the barbarity with which the murder had taken place in Beed, the decision was taken.

The Chief Minister had earlier said on the floor of the House that strict action will be taken against those found guilty. It is noteworthy that Mr. Munde hasn’t been named in the case, but is closely associated to Karad, who is alleged to be the mastermind of the gruesome murder.

The Opposition has been demanding the resignations of Mr. Munde and Manikrao Kokate.

Mr. Munde, the State Food and Civil Supplies Minister, is the NCP MLA from Parli in Beed district. He was earlier the Guardian Minister of Beed.

Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed, was abducted, tortured and murdered on December 9 last year allegedly for attempting to stop an extortion bid targeting an energy company in the district.