MUMBAI: Even as pressure is building up on chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to sack food and civil supplies minister Dhananjay Munde, whose aide Valmik Karad surrendered to the CID, the CM, who also controls the home department, said, “No one will be spared. Strong action will be taken against anyone found to be connected in the Beed case.”
“We will not allow a state of goondas.Violence and extortion will not be allowed. The investigation has been speedy and that is why he has surrendered. Teams have fanned out to arrest the rest of the absconding accused,” the CM said.
Fadnavis said he had assured the family of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh police would investigate until the culprits were hanged.
Adding there was no pressure on the investigation team, Fadnavis said, and it is up to police to decide how to proceed. “The CID has been given total independence.”
Ex-MP Sambhaji Raje urged the chief minister to remove Munde from the cabinet. Asked about demands for Munde’s arrest, Fadnavis said, “I am not going to comment on allegations of politics behind the case. If there is proof against anyone, police will act on that basis. We only want to punish those responsible,” he said.
The opposition said Karad’s surrender was pre-planned and result of a “setting” with govt. The fact he was going to surrender was revealed in advance,” said NCP (SP)’s Jitendra Awhad. I have been told that in one of the clips, Munde stated Karad is his trusted aide,” he added. NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule said, “Why did he have to surrender? Govt should have arrested him.”
