Maharashtra
Maharashtra ‘foul deaths’: Grim Sharad Pawar meets kin of Beed Sarpanch, Parbhani Dalit man

Beed/Parbhani (Maharashtra), Dec 21: As Maharashtra is politically rocked by two ‘most foul deaths’, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar on Saturday visited the families of the victims – a murdered Sarpanch from Beed and a Dalit man of Parbhani found dead in judicial custody.
He was accompanied by NCP (SP) MPs Fauzia Khan (Rajya Sabha), Bajrang M. Sonawane (Beed) and Nilesh D. Lanke (Ahmednagar), besides MLAs Rajesh Tope (Ghansawangi) and Sandeep Kshirsagar (Beed), along with a large number of local units party leaders, workers and villagers.
Pawar, 84, took a helicopter to visit the two districts on Saturday – first going to Beed’s Massajog village whose Sarpanch (Headman) Santosh Pandit Deshmukh, 45, was abducted, brutally tortured and then killed on December 9, by some alleged political rivals when he attempted to foil a huge extortion racket at the AVG windmill company.
Subsequently, Pawar flew down to Parbhani where a Dalit man, Somnath Vyankat Suryawanshi, 35, a law student, was allegedly beaten by the police in the aftermath of the sacrilege of a statue of Dr B. R. Ambedkar (December 10), the subsequent violence and his arrest on December 12, and death in judicial remand on December 15.
In Beed, after lending a patient ear to the Sarpanch’s widow, mother, brother, daughter and other villagers, the NCP (SP) supremo readily agreed to foot the education bills of Deshmukh’s daughter Vaibhavi, and also assured all help for the family’s safe and secure future.
The Deshmukh family members broke down before Pawar and other visitors, accused the Beed Police of not conducting the probe properly, demanded that all the absconding accused must be arrested immediately and many from an adjoining village, and the suspected mastermind, Walmiki Karad still absconding 13 days after the killing.
Vaibhavi Deshmukh said she did not even get a final glimpse of her father who was ruthlessly beaten, and demanded that his killers should be given a similar tough punishment, and demanded justice for the family and the villagers, seeking that the trial be conducted in a fast track court.
Sonawane (MP from Beed), his eyes moist, said that there is an atmosphere of ‘terror’ in the village, when the Sarpanch could meet such a ghastly end, the people are wondering ‘whose turn will be next’.
Many have demanded the resignation of ruling NCP Minister Dhananjay Munde who is reportedly cosy with the fugitive prime wanted Walmiki Karad, a former Mayor of Parli Municipal Council.
Perturbed by the narrations, a distressed Pawar demanded that all the killers and the conspirators must be caught and taught a lesson, the Centre and state governments must take serious note.
“The masses are stunned, and they are people who contribute to the sugar industry in this region. What has happened is not acceptable as the Sarpanch was killed for something he was not connected with,” said Pawar grimly.
He said that there’s no need to bring in caste-community in this case, and pointed out how the NCP (SP) General Secretary Jitendra Awhad and Sandeep Kshirsagar raised the matter in the Legislative Assembly.
“You are not alone in this grief… we are with you, the lawyers are behind you. Please leave your fears behind. I shall convey your sentiments to the government. After Sonawane’s speech in Parliament plus Awhad and Kshirsagar’s statements in the Assembly, people were stunned and are asking what’s going on in different states in the country,” remarked Pawar.
In Parbhani, Pawar questioned the state government why violence was used when the crowds were protesting peacefully and said “this is not acceptable, justice for Suryawanshi’s death is non-negotiable”, while promising to submit the evidence handed over by the family to the CM and other authorities.
Condemning both the deaths, Pawar said that although the CM has announced several measures, compensation and probes, “nothing can bring back the two persons nor erase the grief of both the tragedy-hit families”.
Incidentally, after Pawar’s visits, his nephew and NCP President, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar also rushed to Beed and Parbhani this evening where he encountered angry crowds, and Congress Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha will travel to Parbhani on Monday afternoon.
Maharashtra
70-Year-Old Retired Professor From Nagpur Loses ₹16.5 Lakh In ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam

Mumbai: A 70-year-old retired professor from Nagpur lost Rs16.50 lakh after falling victim to a digital arrest scam.
The fraudster falsely accused him of involvement in child trafficking and claimed a bank account in Mumbai, allegedly in his name, contained proceeds from the crime. On May 6, the professor received a call from someone claiming a mobile number issued in Bengaluru under his name was used for illegal activities.
The caller then transferred him to a supposed police officer via video call, who showed him a bogus arrest warrant and demanded his Aadhaar details. Claiming the professor needed to appear before Delhi police or face arrest, the scammer said he had been placed under ‘digital arrest’ and instructed him to transfer funds for verification.
Fearing legal trouble, the complainant transferred Rs16.5 lakh across multiple accounts. After receiving vague responses when he asked for his money back, the professor realised he had been cheated and approached the cyber police to file a complaint. According to police officials, further investigation has been taken up.
Maharashtra
Mumbai Airport Receives Bomb Threat, Police Arrest 35-Year-Old Man

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police have arrested a 35-year-old man who made a bomb threat call claiming that the Mumbai International Airport would be blown up by 2 PM today. The arrest was made by MIDC Police shortly after the threatening call was received by the Mumbai police control room.
The accused, identified as Manjeet Kumar Gautam, originally hails from Uttar Pradesh but currently resides in the Sakinaka area of Mumbai.
According to officials, Gautam called the police control room and warned, “I will blow up the Mumbai airport by 2 PM today.” The threat triggered immediate security protocols, with bomb detection squads and other security agencies placed on high alert at the airport.
The MIDC police acted swiftly to trace and apprehend the caller. Gautam is currently in custody, and police are investigating the motive behind the call. Initial findings suggest he acted alone.
Maharashtra
Mumbai police crackdown on drug dealers in Govandi, 6 accused arrested in drug clean campaign, factory exposed

Mumbai: Mumbai Police had launched a special campaign through the Drug-Free Govandi campaign in the Muslim-majority suburb of Mumbai, in line with which the Mumbai Police has arrested five drug peddlers and seized drugs worth over Rs 18 crore so far, as well as busting a drug factory. This claim was made by Mumbai Police Additional Commissioner Mahesh Patil in a press conference here today. He said that on March 19, RCF police arrested a drug peddler during a patrol and seized 45 grams of MD from his possession and he was arrested under the NDPS Act. During the investigation of this case, the team has succeeded in arresting five drug peddlers. These arrests have been made from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
Along with this, 3 kg of MD has been recovered from the possession of the accused. During the investigation of the accused, it was revealed that there is a drug workshop in Karjat-Raigarh, Mumbai and drugs are manufactured here. During the raid, the police have seized more than 5 kg of MD and equipment used to manufacture drugs. So far, 6 accused have been arrested in the case of drug peddlers and drugs worth crores of rupees have also been seized. This operation was carried out by Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Police Commissioner (Administration) Satyanarayan Chaudhary and Govandi has been declared drug-free. This campaign was carried out through the campaign. DCP Navnath Dhole and Additional Commissioner Mahesh Patil have also intensified the anti-drug operation in the city for a drug-free Govandi.
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