Fri Dec 27 20:10:00 UTC 2024: **Beed Court Extends Custody of NCP Leader in Village Head’s Murder Case**

**Beed, Maharashtra (December 28, 2024):** A court in Beed, Maharashtra, extended the police custody of Vishnu Chate, a former tehsil chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), until January 6th. Chate is a key suspect in the kidnapping and murder of village head Santosh Deshmukh. This is the fourth arrest in the case, following the apprehension of Jairam Chate, Mahesh Kedar, and Pratik Ghule.

Police are still searching for three additional suspects wanted in connection with Deshmukh’s abduction and brutal killing on December 9th. Among those at large is Walmik Karad, a Beed resident and alleged associate of NCP MLA Dhananjay Munde, who is wanted in a related extortion case. Karad’s wife has been questioned by authorities.

Chate was initially arrested on December 18th in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for allegedly extorting ₹2 crore from an energy company. Deshmukh reportedly attempted to intervene, leading to his kidnapping, torture, and murder. An FIR has been filed against seven individuals, including Chate.

The case has sparked protests in Beed, particularly after images of Deshmukh’s body circulated online. The differing caste backgrounds of the victim (Maratha) and some of the accused (Vanjari, part of the OBCs) have injected a caste angle into the investigation, particularly given ongoing tensions surrounding the Maratha quota agitation.

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