Veteran Attorney Ujjwal Nikam Appointed Special Prosecutor in Beed Murder Case

Mumbai- The Maharashtra government has designated veteran attorney Ujjwal Nikam as Special Public Prosecutor to handle the case involving the killing of Santosh Deshmukh, who served as sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district. Alongside this appointment, Advocate Balasaheb Kolhe will serve as Assistant Special Public Prosecutor, according to an announcement made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on social media.

This decision comes in response to protests by Deshmukh's family members and Massajog villagers, who had initiated a food boycott on Tuesday demanding justice and the capture of Krishna Andhale, the seventh suspect who remains at large more than two months after the crime. The government's appointment of Nikam addresses one of the key demands made by the protesters seeking effective legal representation in court.

Government sources indicate that Nikam's involvement will expedite the ongoing investigation and the filing of charges. The case is currently under scrutiny by three separate investigative bodies: the state Criminal Investigation Department, a special investigation team, and a judicial committee.

The appointment occurs amid growing calls from both governing and opposition parties for the resignation of NCP minister Dhananjay Munde, whose close associate Walmik Karad faces charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act in connection with an extortion case linked to Deshmukh's murder.

In response to the appointment, the victim's brother, Dhananjay Deshmukh, expressed confidence that Nikam's involvement would accelerate the investigation and address any deficiencies in the case. Meanwhile, Santosh Deshmukh's daughter Vaibhavi emphasized her determination to obtain justice while also preparing for her exams, noting that securing justice for her father remains her priority.

Nikam built his legal career in Jalgaon district and gained prominence representing the government in high-profile cases, including the 1993 Mumbai bombings, the murder of T-Series founder Gulshan Kumar, and the killing of BJP leader Pramod Mahajan. Throughout his distinguished career, Nikam has secured 30 death sentences and over 600 life imprisonment verdicts. He has also represented the government in other notable cases including the Khairlanji murders, the Shakti Mill gang rape, and the Kopardi rape and murder. He gained widespread recognition for his role in securing Ajmal Kasab's death sentence following the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

Recently, Nikam contested the parliamentary elections as a BJP candidate from North Central Mumbai, ultimately losing to Congress nominee Varsha Gaikwad by 16,514 votes.