Walmik Karad Charged Under MCOCA for Beed Sarpanch’s Death
In a shocking turn of events, Walmik Karad, a close aide of Maharashtra’s food and civil supplies minister Dhananjay Munde, has been charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in connection with the death of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog. The charges come 35 days after Deshmukh’s demise, sparking protests across Beed.
Legal Proceedings Unfold
The development unfolded after the Kej sessions court granted Karad judicial custody in an unrelated extortion case. Subsequently, the police submitted an application to charge Karad under MCOCA in the Deshmukh death. The court accepted the application and issued a production warrant. Karad is now set to be presented before the court on Wednesday, where the police will seek his custody.
News of the MCOCA charges prompted a bandh in Parali, called by Karad’s supporters. Parubai Karad, the accused’s mother, joined other demonstrators in staging a protest outside the Parli police station, alleging that her son was being framed in false cases.
Legal Defense and Concerns
Karad’s lawyer, Siddheshwar Thombre, expressed concerns over the sudden turn of events. “Karad’s police custody ended today, and the court granted judicial custody. Later, following the CID’s application, the MCOCA court issued a production warrant. We are still awaiting the details and documents related to the MCOCA charges. At this point, we are unaware of the specific grounds for the charges. Once we have all the necessary information, we will decide on the next steps,” Thombre said.
Karad’s next court appearance is set to provide clarity on the evidence linking him to Deshmukh’s death and the basis for invoking the stringent MCOCA provisions. The unfolding legal proceedings will shed light on the complexities surrounding this case and determine Karad’s fate in the face of these serious allegations.
As we await further developments in this case, it’s essential to remember the impact such legal actions have on individuals and their families, highlighting the need for a fair and transparent judicial process in all circumstances.
