Overview

• Santosh Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village, was murdered on December 9, 2024, following his opposition to extortion at a wind power plant construction site.
• The Maharashtra government has appointed Ujjwal Nikam, a prominent lawyer known for handling high-profile cases, as the special public prosecutor.
• Villagers and Deshmukh's family had been on a hunger strike demanding Nikam’s appointment, the arrest of a key accused, and action against implicated police officers.
• The hunger strike was called off after the government fulfilled the demand to appoint Nikam, with assurances of a fast-track court process.
• The case is being investigated by a CID special investigation team, with several suspects arrested and others, including Krishna Andhale, still at large.