Mon Jan 06 03:07:56 UTC 2025: ## Maratha Quota Activist Booked for Defamatory Remarks Against Maharashtra Minister

**Beed, Maharashtra –** Manoj Jarange Patil, a prominent Maratha quota activist, has been booked by Beed police for allegedly making defamatory statements against Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde. The FIR, filed on Sunday, stems from a complaint by Tukaram Aghav and accuses Mr. Jarange of creating social discord.

Mr. Jarange’s comments, made during a rally in Parbhani on Saturday, targeted Mr. Munde in relation to the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, a Maratha sarpanch from Massajog village. The activist reportedly threatened that the Maratha community would prevent Mr. Munde from moving freely if Mr. Deshmukh’s family was harmed.

These remarks sparked outrage among Mr. Munde’s supporters, leading to protests outside the Shivajinagar police station and calls for legal action against Mr. Jarange.

Mr. Deshmukh was abducted, tortured, and murdered on December 9th, allegedly in connection with an extortion attempt against a windmill energy firm. Seven individuals have been arrested in the murder investigation, with Walmik Karad, an associate of Mr. Munde, arrested in relation to the extortion case. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) from the Crime Investigation Department (CID) is currently investigating both cases. The murder has taken on a caste conflict dimension, given Mr. Deshmukh’s Maratha background and the Vanjari community affiliation of most of the accused.

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