Beed Sarpanch Murder Spurs Protests and Political Tensions in Maharashtra

The killing of Santosh Deshmukh has led to demands for justice, calls for a minister's resignation, and renewed Maratha community mobilization.

Santosh Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village, was abducted, tortured, and murdered on December 9, 2024, allegedly for opposing an extortion bid tied to a wind energy project.
Protests led by Maratha leaders and activists have intensified, with demands for swift justice, fast-track trials, and the resignation of Minister Dhananjay Munde, whose aide is implicated in the extortion case.
Police have arrested seven individuals, including two suspects apprehended in Pune, while one accused remains at large; a special investigation team is leading the probe.
The case has reignited caste tensions between Maratha and OBC communities, with parallels being drawn to previous Maratha reservation agitations.
Political pressure is mounting within the ruling Mahayuti alliance as BJP and NCP leaders clash over the investigation and accountability, threatening coalition stability.