Court decision on discharge plea of sarpanch murder case accused Karad on July 22: Nikam

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jul 7 (PTI) A special court in Maharashtra's Beed district will pass its order on July 22 on the discharge application filed by Walmik Karad, a key accused in the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said on Monday.

In April, Karad, currently in jail under judicial custody, filed an application in the court set up under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), seeking discharge in the case, claiming there was no primary evidence against him.

Nikam presented the prosecution's arguments on the plea and placed evidence collected by police against the accused before the court earlier.

"The court will pass its order on the discharge application of Walmik Karad on July 22. The prosecution, in a separate plea, has also sought permission for seizure of properties belonging to the accused. Assistant prosecutor Balasaheb Kolhe presented arguments on the plea, order on which will also be passed by the court on the same day (July 22)," Nikam told reporters.

"Some other accused have also filed applications seeking denial of permission to seize their properties. These applications will also be decided on July 22," he informed.

An accused can be discharged after filing of a chargesheet in a case if the court is of the opinion that the offence against him is not prima facie made out. The accused then need not go through the trial in the case.

Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, was abducted and tortured to death on December 9 last year allegedly for attempting to stop an extortion bid targeting an energy company.

Eight persons, including Karad, have been arrested so far and booked under the stringent MCOCA.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed a chargesheet running into more than 1,200 pages in the murder case and two related offences in the court. PTI AW RSY