India, Feb. 3 -- Two days after Namdev Shastri, chief of Bhanwangad - the religious power centre of the Vanjari community, stoked controversy by saying Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and minister Dhananjay Munde had been wrongfully implicated in the Santosh Deshmukh murder case, the mahant (chief religious leader) on Sunday made an about turn, claiming he did not mean to support the accused in the case and the shrine stood by the slain sarpanch's family firmly.

The development came after the deceased's brother Dhananjay Deshmukh and daughter Vaibhavi Deshmukh met Shastri on Sunday afternoon, submitted documents related to the accused, and said they expected the mahant to clear his stand on the case.

Santosh Deshmukh, three-time...