Subhechcha Ganguly 
In a significant administrative reshuffle, Beed District Collector Avinash Pathak has been transferred to the Maharashtra Fisheries Development Corporation as its Managing Director. The move, ordered by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, comes in the wake of mounting political pressure and criticism over Pathak’s alleged failure to tackle crime and corruption in the region.
Pathak, who assumed the role of Beed Collector in June last year, previously served as the CEO of the Beed Zilla Parishad between August 2023 and June 2024. His tenure has come under scrutiny, particularly following the brutal killing of local sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in December 2024, which exposed deep-rooted links between the political establishment and criminal elements in the district.
In the aftermath of the incident, the district’s Superintendent of Police, Avinash Bargal, was also transferred and replaced by young IPS officer Navneet Kanwat.
Sources within the administration suggest that Pathak’s inability to take strong action against criminal networks and corruption led to calls for his removal. Political groups reportedly lobbied for the transfer of key officials from Beed, a district long plagued by caste-based tensions and organized crime.
Social activist Anjali Damania, known for her work in addressing caste-based violence in Beed, publicly welcomed the move. “I had personally requested the chief minister to transfer Pathak. He failed to act on serious corruption complaints against NCP MLA Dhananjay Munde and others, and ignored MahaGenco’s concerns over mismanagement in fly ash disposal,” Damania said.
In a brief statement, Pathak responded to the transfer, saying, “If the Chief Minister orders, we are bound to obey. I have served in Beed in various capacities for over eight years. I do not wish to comment on the allegations made by Ms. Damania.”
The reshuffle is being seen as part of a broader attempt by the state government to restore order and credibility in Beed, a district that has been under the spotlight for governance failures and increasing lawlessness.
