Mon Apr 14 11:23:07 UTC 2025: ## Suspended Cop Alleges Murder Plot Offer in Sarpanch Case

**Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, April 14, 2025** – A suspended police sub-inspector in Beed, Maharashtra, has alleged he was offered a bribe to orchestrate the extrajudicial killing of Walmik Karad, an accused in the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. Ranjeet Kasle, suspended from the cyber crime department, claims he was approached by a group of individuals who offered him a substantial sum, ranging from ₹10 to ₹50 crore, to eliminate Karad. He reportedly recorded the names of those involved in a local police station diary.

However, a senior Beed police official dismissed Kasle’s claims as baseless, demanding proof. The official stated that Kasle’s actions violated work ethics and that a preliminary enquiry into the matter is underway. A notice has been sent to Kasle, but he has yet to accept it.

Karad is one of eight individuals arrested and charged under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for the murder of Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village. Deshmukh was abducted and killed in December 2024, allegedly for attempting to stop an extortion attempt targeting an energy company. A 1,200-page chargesheet was filed last month by the state Crime Investigation Department (CID).

Kasle’s allegations come amidst public scrutiny of police conduct, referencing the custodial death of Akshay Shinde, an accused in the Badlapur sexual assault case. Kasle advocated for a central government-led SIT investigation into the Shinde case to ensure a thorough and impartial probe.

Read More