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2005 murder of Shiv Sena leader: Shinde vows to send killer to jail

Stating that his agenda was development, Shinde said there will be no shortage of development.

3 min readPuneNov 25, 2025 10:07 AM IST

Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde Vows Justice for 2005 Shiv Sena Leader Murder. (File)

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde vowed Sunday to send those behind the murder of Shiv Sena leader Pandit Deshmukh in 2005 to jail.

”Do you want goonda raj or do you want ‘vikas’, development?… The one who murdered our Shiv Sena leader Pandit Deshmukh should get punishment under any circumstances… He will not get a pardon,” Shinde said while addressing an election rally in Mohol. However, he has not named anyone.

Shinde said the government will appoint an expert lawyer in Harish Salve to conduct the trial. “We will not allow our leader Pandit Deshmukh’s sacrifice to go in vain,” he said.

Meanwhile, NCP Solapur district president Umesh Patil said the son of a former BJP MLA was the prime accused in the case. “In 2007, all 13 accused were acquitted by a lower court. The state government has appealed in the Bombay High Court against the verdict. The case is still pending,” he said.

During his speech, decrying the criminal activities in Mohol taluka, Shinde asked, ”What is this ‘goondagiri’ going on here? Why is terror being spread? We will not tolerate ‘goondagiri’ in Maharashtra, which is a progressive state. If people want a crime-free Mohol, then they should vote for Shiv Sena. When I back someone, I don’t fear the consequences.”

Stating that his agenda was development, Shinde said there will be no shortage of development. ”My agenda is development, development and development,” he said.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Umesh Patil said Pandit Deshmukh was a taluka president of the then-undivided Shiv Sena. “He was murdered most brutally in the same manner as what happened in Beed (Sarpanch murder).”

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He said Shinde’s support will be vital to send the culprits to jail. ”It was not an ordinary crime. Pandit Deshmukh was murdered in a savage way. He was dismembered. The entire taluka was stunned and showed the kind of terror that certain political leaders tried to spread. Yet they are roaming free,” said Umesh Patil.

“The NCP will not keep quiet. Now Eknath Shinde has also promised to get the appointment of noted lawyer Harish Salve. We are confident that the murderers will now go to jail. We are seeking capital punishment for all the accused involved in the case,” added Umesh Patil.

BJP-NCP clash over Angar nagar panchayat

The Mohol taluka has been in the news recently after Ujwala Thite, a candidate from the NCP, was prevented from filing her nomination papers for the Angar nagar panchayat three times. She alleged that some associates of former BJP MLA Rajan Patil threatened her and stopped her from reaching the election office to file her nomination paper. Rajan Patil denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated.

The district collectorate and the police then provided 200 police personnel as security, after which Thite filed her nomination paper.

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However, her papers were rejected by the election office during scrutiny for not containing the proposer’s signature. Thite has appealed in the sessions court. Her lawyers said the decision is expected this week.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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