Pune Court Denies Bail to Jailed Corporator in High-Profile Murder Case
In a significant development, the special court (MCOCA) presided over by Judge SS Kanthale has firmly rejected the second bail application of incarcerated corporator Laxmi Udaykant Andekar. This decision pertains to her alleged involvement in the brutal murder of 18-year-old Ayush Komkar, which occurred on September 5, 2025. The court emphasized that Laxmi's conduct both before and after the crime strongly indicates her participation in a criminal conspiracy, making bail inappropriate at this stage of the proceedings.
Evidence Points to Direct Involvement and Conspiracy
Judge Kanthale meticulously referenced the prosecution's case, highlighting compelling evidence against Laxmi Andekar. According to call detail records, she was in direct communication with Munaf Pathan and Aman Pathan, who are co-accused in the case and allegedly supplied the arms used in the murder. Aman Pathan is identified as the shooter who killed Ayush Komkar. The records show that Laxmi made five calls to Munaf Pathan in June and July of the previous year.
The judge pointedly questioned why Laxmi, who claims no association with criminal activities, would have any reason to communicate with such individuals. This inconsistency in her defense was a key factor in the bail rejection. Furthermore, the court noted that immediately after the incident, Laxmi fled Pune in a private vehicle along with her three sons. They were subsequently tracked down and apprehended in Dwarka, Gujarat. This act of fleeing was interpreted as a reasonable ground to believe she was an integral part of the criminal conspiracy.
Background of the Murder and Family Feud
The murder itself was a violent episode where two assailants shot dead Ayush Komkar in the parking area of his residential building in Nana Peth, Pune. Ayush was the son of Ganesh Komkar, who is himself a co-accused in the murder of former NCP corporator Vanraj Andekar on September 1, 2024. Adding a layer of complexity, Ganesh Komkar is also the brother-in-law of Vanraj Andekar.
Following Ayush's killing, the police registered a case of murder and criminal conspiracy based on a complaint filed by his mother. The charges were filed against Ayush's grandfather, the alleged gangster Suryakant alias Bandu Andekar, and twelve other individuals. Investigators believe this murder was an act of revenge for the earlier killing of Vanraj Andekar.
The root of this violent feud appears to be a protracted property dispute between Vanraj Andekar and his two sisters, who are married to the Komkar brothers, Jayant and Ganesh. This dispute is believed to have contributed to Vanraj's murder. Police sources indicate that the Andekar gang was actively seeking an opportunity to avenge Vanraj's death, leading to the tragic killing of Ayush Komkar.
Additional Bail Rejections in Extortion Case
In a related ruling on the same day, April 20, Judge Kanthale also rejected the bail applications of five other individuals, including jailed corporator Sonali Vanraj Andekar. This case involves the alleged extortion of Rs 20 crore from traders at the Nagzari-Ganesh Peth fish market. The court found prima facie material supporting their involvement in organized crime activities.
The other bail applicants in this extortion case were Shivam, Abhishek, and Shivraj—the three sons of Bandu Andekar's late brother, Udaykant Andekar—along with their aide, Sagar Balkrushna Thopate. The court examined the material on record, noting that the FIR attributed specific roles to certain accused individuals who allegedly visited the fish market to intimidate traders. Witness statements further bolstered the prosecution's case at this preliminary stage.
A critical financial observation made by the court was that substantial amounts of money were deposited into a bank account held by Sonali Andekar. Notably, no documented legitimate source of income for these deposits was presented before the court, raising serious questions about the origins of these funds.
The Faraskhana police had registered the FIR in this extortion case on September 20, 2025, based on a complaint from a functionary of a fish traders' association. The complaint alleged that the Andekar gang had been systematically extorting money from traders since as early as 2013-14, indicating a long-standing pattern of criminal behavior.
These consecutive bail rejections underscore the judiciary's firm stance against alleged organized crime activities in Pune, reflecting a rigorous examination of evidence and witness testimonies to ensure justice is served in these complex and interconnected cases.
