Ajit unlikely to appoint Munde as Beed's guardian minister

Awhad and Beed MP allege the car used by accused Walmik Karad was part of Ajit Pawar's convoy

- Saurabha Kulshreshtha

MUMBAI: Intensifying the attack on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister Dhananjay Munde over the brutal murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, on Friday NCP-SP leader Jitendra Awhad alleged that Deshmukh was killed in a bid to extort money for election funds, and linked the incident to Munde, who on Thursday denied any association with the extortion case filed against his aide Walmik Karad.

Awhad's claim was buttressed by another party leader and Beed MP Bajrang Sonawane, who alleged that the vehicle used by Karad while surrendering before police in Pune on Tuesday, was also seen in deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's convoy when he visited Massajog village, Beed, last month to meet the family of the deceased.

Deshmukh's murder on December 9, after he opposed a ₹2 crore extortion bid at a wind power plant, generated a controversy, with opposition leaders from Beed targeting Munde, given his decades-long association with Karad. On Thursday, Munde said he would not resign as he has nothing to do with the extortion or murder case.