Mumbai: The Sanjay Deshmukh murder case took a new turn on Tuesday with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) applying the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against Walmik Karad, who is the Man Friday of Dhananjay Munde, NCP leader and cabinet minister in the Devendra Fadnavis government.

He was earlier booked for allegedly trying to extort Rs 2 crore from a windmill company of Beed. But now he has been booked for the alleged murder of Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district on December 9.

The slapping of MCOCA resulted in Karad's supporters calling for a total Parli bandh. Shopkeepers who had opened shutters in the hope of doing brisk business on Makar Sankranti, were asked by mobs supporting Karad to shut down. The bandh was total but peaceful except for an incident of tyre burning. Karad is something of a cult figure in Parli with a huge following.

For the past several weeks the Fadnavis government has been under tremendous pressure not only from an aggressive opposition but also from BJP MLAs like Suresh Dhas to not only book Karad in the murder case, but also sack Munde from the ministry. It is not clear if the application of MCOCA in the murder case is based on credible evidence of Karad's involvement in the brutal murder or is aimed at diffusing massive protests in different parts of the state.

The decision to apply MCOCA was taken soon after the sessions court in Kej, sent Karad to judicial custody in the extortion case. The police submitted an application to charge Karad under MCOCA in the Deshmukh murder case. The court has issued a production warrant and Karad will be produced before the court on Wednesday.

Parubai Karad, Walmiki’s mother, joined other demonstrators in staging a protest outside the Parli police station. She alleged that her son was being framed in false cases. She has threatened to go on an indefinite fast if her son is not released.

Earlier, Karad was produced before the Kej sessions court by the state CID which asked for his judicial custody. The court, however, granted judicial custody.

Karad’s lawyer, Siddheshwar Thombre, said he would be able to comment only after receiving papers relating to the application of MCOCA. It is likely that the Enforcement Directorate may be asked to join the probe following reports of Karad's investments abroad.

Meanwhile, Krishna Andhale, a key person wanted in the Deshmukh murder case is still eluding police arrest. It is believed that Andhale, who is wanted in several other criminal cases, had gone underground for two years and surfaced only during the Deshmukh episode.