Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde undergoes eye surgery in Mumbai

Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde on Wednesday said that he has undergone an eye surgery and has been advised to take rest for the next four to five days hence he will not be able to meet anyone PTI reportedThe Minister for Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection who is facing the heat over Beed sarpanch murder and corruption allegations said he will resume work on February 10He said he underwent surgery at noted ophthalmologist Tatyarao Lahanes private hospital in Maharashtras Mumbai city PTI reportedOn Tuesday activist Anjali Damania alleged a Rs 88 crore scam in the agriculture department when Munde held the portfolio in the previous Mahayuti government in the stateThe minister has termed the allegations as baseless and claimed that he will file a defamation suit against her PTI citedMunde is also under fire over the arrest of his close associate Walmik Karad in an extortion case related to the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in the Beed district the ministers home turf in central MaharashtraSpiritual leaders event cancelled after Marathas object to him backing Dhananjay MundeA kirtan programme of Namdev Shastri spiritual leader of the Vanjari community scheduled at Dehu in Maharashtras Pune district on Friday has been cancelled after opposition from Maratha outfits and a caution issued by local police reported news agency PTIShastri the head of Bhagwangad Sansthan recently voiced support for state NCP minister Dhananjay Munde who belongs to the Vanjari community and is under fire over the murder of a sarpanch belonging to Maratha community in Beed district reported PTIBhagwangad situated on the border of Beed and Ahilyanagar districts is the religious seat of the Vanjari communityMassajog village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was abducted tortured and murdered on December 9 2024 for allegedly trying to stop an extortion bid targeting an energy firm in Beed districtSeven persons have been arrested in the murder case Mundes close aide Walmik Karad has been arrested in a related extortion caseShastri a revered figure in the Vanjari community recently claimed Munde was being targeted He later also extended his support to the family of slain sarpanch Deshmukh after they met him over the weekendShastris event was to take place on Friday at Sri Kshetra Bhandara Dongar near Dehu where the temple of Sant Tukaram Maharaj is located reported PTIMembers of the Akhand Maratha Samaj on February 1 submitted a letter to the temple trustees urging them to cancel Shastris kirtan claiming he defended Munde in connection with the sarpanchs murder caseThe Talegaon Dabhade police on Tuesday also issued a letter to the temple trustees cautioning that if the kirtan programme takes place there could be a law and order issue and members of the Maratha outfit might attempt to target ShastriWith PTI inputs