The state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in its 1,800-page charge sheet filed in the brutal killing of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh has named Walmik Karad as the mastermind. Karad has already been booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act in connection with the Rs 2 crore extortion from a developer of a wind power project, Avaada Energy. The police have already arrested seven including Karad while Krishna Andhale is still missing after the murder took place in December last year. The Special Investigation Team led by senior IPS officer Basavaraj Teli is also probing the case. Since the charge sheet was filed within 80 days, it will now be difficult for the government to get the accused accused out of jail. The government recently appointed senior advocate Uwal Nikam as special prosecutor in the case, said police sources. The chargesheet has been filed along with matching voice samples of Karad and the company employees, and CCTV footage showing the connection of the accused in the murder case with the extortion crime.
