Why Munde's resignation took so long when govt had photos of sarpanch murder, asks Sule

NCP leader Supriya Sule questions delay in resignation of Maharashtra minister amid murder case revelations.

NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule on Tuesday (March 4, 2025) asked why it took 84 days for Dhananjay Munde to resign from the Maharashtra cabinet when the photos and footage related to the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh were available with the government.

Talking to reporters, the Lok Sabha MP said although Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said their party colleague Mr. Munde resigned on moral grounds, he himself cited health reasons for his decision to step down.

Also Read : Murder and minister’s resignation: How a Sarpanch’s murder in Beed landed Dhananjay Munde in soup

Mr. Munde, the State Food and Civil Supplies Minister and NCP MLA from Parli, resigned from the State cabinet days after his close aide Walmik Karad was named as the mastermind in the Beed sarpanch murder case.

He said he resigned as the Maharashtra cabinet minister after listening to his conscience and due to medical reasons.

The Opposition’s demand for Mr. Munde’s resignation intensified after gory photos and court chargesheet details related to the killing of Mr. Deshmukh surfaced, revealing the brutalities committed before the murder.

Mr. Deshmukh 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.