Mumbai, February 26, 2025: The Maharashtra government has appointed senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam as the special public prosecutor in the Santosh Deshmukh murder case. Deshmukh, a sarpanch from Beed district, was allegedly killed for opposing an extortion attempt related to a wind energy firm. Advocate Balasaheb Kolhe will assist Nikam in the prosecution.
The state CID is investigating the case, with over 150 individuals questioned and three suspects still at large. Walmik Karad, an aide of Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde, has been arrested in connection with the extortion case, while Beed police seek public help to locate the remaining accused.
