Oppn demands transfer of Beed sarpanch murder trial

Photos, video of judge playing Holi with suspect cops cause stir; Pawar Sr decries misuse of power

- Faisal Malik

MUMBAI: The opposition in Maharashtra is leading a chorus against two images and a video posted by activist Anjali Damania, showing the judge trying the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh allegedly celebrating Holi with two police officers suspended in the same case.

Damania had posted the images on social media on Friday, as reported by Hindustan Times, prompting opposition parties to demand that the trial be transferred out of Beed district to Pune. Alleging judicial impropriety, if the images and video are found to be authentic, opposition parties said the case must be shifted in the interests of a free and fair trial.

The images and video in question show additional sessions judge of the special MCOCA court in Kej in Beed, Sudhir Bhajipale, among a group of men, including the two suspended police officers, in Holi colours. The police officers are inspector Prashant Mahajan and sub-inspector Rajesh Patil.

Reacting to the distressing developments since Deshmukh's murder on December 9 last year, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar blamed the worsening law and order situation in Beed on the misuse of power by certain political figures for personal gain.