Mumbai: Even as pressure is building up on CM Devendra Fadnavis to sack food and civil supplies minister Dhananjay Munde, whose aide Valmik Karad surrendered to the CID, the CM, who also controls the home department, said, “No one will be spared. Strong action will be taken against anyone found to be connected in the Beed case.”
“We will not allow a state of goondas. Violence and extortion will not be allowed.The investigation has been speedy and that is why he has surrendered. Teams have fanned out to arrest the rest of the absconding accused,” he said. Fadnavis said he had assured the family of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh that police would investigate until the culprits were hanged.
He also said there was no pressure on the investigation and it is up to police to decide how to proceed. “The CID has been given total independence,” Fadnavis said.
Ex-MP Sambhaji Raje urged the CM to remove Munde from the cabinet. Asked about demands for Munde’s arrest as Karad was an aide of his, Fadnavis said, “I am not going to comment on allegations of politics behind the case. If there is proof against anyone, police will act on that basis. We only want to punish those responsible,” he said.
The opposition alleged Karad’s surrender was pre-planned and the result of a “setting” with govt. “The fact he was going to surrender was revealed in advance,” said NCP (SP)’s Jitendra Awhad. “I have been told that in one of the clips, Munde stated Karad is his trusted aide,” he added. NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule said, “Why did he have to surrender? Govt should have arrested him.”
