The Court Has Sought the State CID's Response to Walmik Karad's Discharge Plea

Walmik Karad, a close aide of former state minister Dhananjay Munde and a key accused in the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case, has filed an application before the Special MCOCA Court in Beed seeking to be discharged, claiming there is no primary evidence against him, the prosecution said on Thursday.

- Nadeem Inamdar

PUNE:

"There is no proof against me or any indication of my participation in the crime. I have not demanded extortion. On these grounds, I seek discharge," Karad stated in his plea before special judge Vyankatesh Patwadkar. Karad's lawyer, Vikas Khade, reiterated that his client had no role in the murder.

Meanwhile, all accused appeared before the court via videoconferencing on Thursday. Advocate Rahul Munde, representing another accused, Vishnu Chate, sought his transfer from Latur jail to Beed.

The court has sought a response on Karad's discharge application from the state Crime Investigation Department, which is conducting a probe into the case.