API, 2 cops dropped from SIT over alleged links with Karad

The state home department has removed assistant police inspector (API) Mahesh Vighne and two other policemen attached to the Beed local crime branch (LCB) from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, a senior police officer, who is a part of the SIT, confirmed on Monday.

- Nadeem Inamdar

PUNE:

The decision came after NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad shared a photograph on social media showing Vighne with the arrested accused Walmik Karad, an aide of minister Dhananjay Munde, raising doubts about the impartiality of the investigation. The decision was strengthened when, soon after the image was circulated, NCP spokesperson Suraj Chavan demanded that "all the members with connections to the accused be removed from the SIT".