‘Cheating’ of Baramati farmers by Walmik Karad: Supriya Sule to raise issue with CM Devendra Fadnavis

Karad, an aide of NCP minister Dhananjay Munde, has been facing allegations of extortion in connection with the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. He has been accused of attempting to extort Rs 2 crore from staffers of a company. Deshmukh was killed on December 9, reportedly for trying to foil the extortion attempt.

Asked whether she would raise the issue with her cousin and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is the Baramati MLA, Sule said, “I will take up the matter with the competent authority. Cheating is a crime and the police have to investigate. The police is handled by the state home ministry which happens to be with the chief minister.”

Sule’s statement comes amid strained ties with Ajit since the split in the NCP. The latter had reportedly turned away the Baramati farmers who approached him over the matter.

This is not a political issue, but a social issue, she said, adding that all party leaders have come together seeking justice for Deshmukh’s family.

Sule also raised concern over the investigation into the murder case. “The state government has accepted that there was extortion by Karad and an offence was registered in May last year. If it is clear that extortion took place then why is the Enforcement Directorate (ED) out of the picture in the investigation,” she asked.

“It was super-fast in registering offences against NCP leaders Anil Deshmukh, Nawab Malik, Chhagan Bhujbal and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, and arrested them on the basis of merely oral information while Karad was booked on the basis of a written complaint of extortion,” she pointed out.

Sule said the mobile phone of an accused in the case is still missing while one accused is absconding, and asked, “What happened to the voice sample report of the accused?” If extortion is so rampant, how will the state have a favourable atmosphere for investment, she said.

Mentioning that it has been over 30 days since the sarpanch’s murder, Sule said that everyone involved directly or indirectly in the death should be hanged, and sought security cover for the man’s family.