In a significant development in the high-profile abduction and murder case of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, five of the seven accused have moved an application seeking the removal of noted senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam as the special public prosecutor. The application was presented before the special court in Beed on Friday.
Accused Allege Prosecutor's Political Links
The five accused, whose names were part of the plea, have contended that Nikam has connections with a political party, which forms the basis of their request for his removal from the case. It is important to note that the prime accused, former Parli municipal council chief Valmik Karad, and another co-accused, Vishnu Chate, did not join this application.
Opposing the move, assistant special public prosecutor B D Kolhe urged the court to dismiss the plea. The court has scheduled the next hearing on this matter for December 23, 2024. On the same date, the court is also likely to frame formal charges against all the accused in the case.
Background of the Brutal Crime
The case pertains to the horrific abduction, brutal torture, and eventual murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh on December 9, 2024. According to the prosecution, the crime was a direct result of Deshmukh's resistance to a multi-crore extortion bid targeted at a private energy firm, Avada Energy.
Bail Plea of Co-Accused Vishnu Chate Heard
Separately, the special court also heard the bail application filed by co-accused Vishnu Chate. His legal counsel argued two key points in favour of bail: firstly, that Chate's name was conspicuously absent from the first two FIRs registered in the case, and secondly, that he has no prior criminal record.
The prosecution strongly opposed the bail plea. They submitted before the court that Chate was actively involved in the crime and had repeatedly demanded extortion money from officials of the Avada Energy firm.
The legal manoeuvres by the defence and the prosecution's firm opposition set the stage for a crucial hearing on December 23, which will be pivotal in determining the future course of this closely watched case.
