A special court in Maharashtra's Beed district has taken a decisive step in a high-profile abduction and murder case, formally framing charges against the prime accused and his associates. The court invoked stringent laws, marking a critical juncture in the pursuit of justice for a slain village head.
Court Invokes MCOCA, BNS in Landmark Ruling
On Tuesday, the special MCOCA court in Beed framed charges against former Parli municipal council president Valmik Karad and other co-accused. They stand accused in the abduction and murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh and an attempted extortion of Rs 2 crore from a windmill company.
Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, addressing the media alongside assistant prosecutor B D Kolhe and the victim's brother Dhananjay, stated that the prosecution's proposed charges were accepted in full by the court. The charges pressed include sections 308 (extortion), 61 (criminal conspiracy), and 238 (disappearance of evidence) of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Crucially, sections 3 (1), 3 (2), and 3 (4) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) were also framed against each accused.
"The trial court has finally framed charges against Valmik Karad and his gang," Nikam said, emphasizing that this move ends sustained attempts by the defense to delay proceedings. The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecution Details Motive and Presents Key Evidence
According to the prosecution's case, the murder was a direct result of Deshmukh obstructing Karad's extortion racket. Nikam elaborated that Deshmukh was killed on December 9, 2024, as part of a conspiracy because he allegedly blocked Karad's bid to extort money from the Avada windmill company.
"Santosh Deshmukh became an obstacle in Valmik Karad receiving the extortion money he was demanding. That is why he was killed," Nikam stated unequivocally. The prosecution established that the accused conspired, acted in collusion, and later attempted to destroy evidence related to the crime.
In a significant development during Tuesday's hearing, the prosecution presented a video recording of a meeting among the accused. Nikam revealed that the video was recorded by one of the accused themselves, providing potential insider evidence against the group.
Legal Hurdles Cleared for Expedited Trial
The path to framing charges was not smooth, with the defense employing various strategies to stall the process. Nikam highlighted that the accused frequently changed their lawyers as a delay tactic. However, they failed to secure any relief from the higher judiciary.
"The high court has not granted any stay on the framing of charges. An attempt was made yesterday (Monday), but the high court orally refused," Nikam informed reporters. This refusal cleared the final hurdle for the special court to proceed with framing the charges as proposed.
With the charges now formally framed, the stage is set for the trial to begin in earnest. The prosecution has signaled its intent to seek a swift judicial process. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 8, where the trial is expected to move forward.
