In a major turn of events, Walmik Karad, a prime suspect in an extortion case tied to the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, has officially surrendered to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Pune. Karad reached the CID headquarters in Pashan at approximately 12 noon on Tuesday, as confirmed by official sources.

The Case Overview

The extortion case stems from the murder of Santosh Deshmukh in Massajog, Beed district. Karad is one of four accused individuals, and the case involves three separate First Information Reports (FIRs):

Deshmukh’s kidnapping and murder

Assault on a security guard at a local establishment

₹2 crore extortion attempt targeting a renewable energy company operating windmill projects in the region

Political Storm Brews

The case has sparked a political storm, with opposition parties accusing Karad of being closely associated with Dhananjay Munde, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The probe is now under much more scrutiny as a result of these claims.

Karad Breaks Silence Before Surrender

Before surrendering, Karad released a video statement, asserting his innocence. He stated, “I have been falsely implicated in this case. I am voluntarily surrendering to the CID and appeal for a fair and impartial investigation into all related cases.”

Karad also mentioned that he will not seek bail, signaling his intent to fully cooperate with the authorities.

Heightened Security at CID Headquarters

Since early Tuesday morning, tight security arrangements were observed at the CID headquarters in Pashan, Pune, in anticipation of Karad’s surrender. To ensure a smooth event, police officers were positioned at strategic entry points.

What's Next?
 

Officials are anticipated to provide further information about Karad's involvement in the case and the status of ongoing investigations as the inquiry progresses.