Pune Court Denies Bail to Corporator in Teen Murder Case, Highlights Conspiracy Evidence
The special MCOCA court in Pune, 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 murder of 18-year-old Ayush Komkar on September 5, 2025. The court emphasized that her conduct both before and after the incident strongly indicates her participation in a criminal conspiracy, which cannot be dismissed at this preliminary stage of the investigation.
Evidence of Communication and Flight Points to Guilt
Judge Kanthale referenced the prosecution's case, which relies on call detail records showing that Laxmi Andekar was in contact with arms supplier Munaf Pathan and co-accused Aman Pathan. Aman Pathan is identified as the shooter who killed Ayush Komkar. Specifically, Laxmi made five calls to Munaf Pathan in June and July of the previous year. The judge noted on April 20 that she had no plausible reason to communicate with such individuals if she truly had no connections to criminal activities, as she claims.
Furthermore, the court highlighted that Laxmi Andekar, along with her three sons, fled the scene in a private vehicle immediately after the murder. They were later tracked down and apprehended in Dwarka, Gujarat. This act of evasion provided reasonable grounds to believe she was an integral part of the criminal conspiracy, according to the judge's ruling.
Background of the Murder and Property Dispute
The tragic incident occurred when two assailants shot and killed Ayush Komkar in the parking area of his residential building in Nana Peth, Pune. Ayush was the son of Ganesh Komkar, who is a co-accused in the murder of former NCP corporator Vanraj Andekar on September 1, 2024. Notably, Ganesh Komkar is also the brother-in-law of Vanraj Andekar, adding a layer of familial complexity to the case.
Following Ayush's murder, the police registered a case of murder and criminal conspiracy against his grandfather, gangster Suryakant alias Bandu Andekar, and twelve others, based on a complaint filed by Ayush's mother. Investigators believe the killing was an act of revenge for Vanraj Andekar's murder, which itself stemmed from a bitter property dispute. Vanraj Andekar had ongoing conflicts with his two sisters, who are married to the Komkar brothers, Jayant and Ganesh. The Andekar gang was allegedly seeking an opportunity to avenge Vanraj's death, as per police statements.
Additional Bail Rejections in Extortion Case
In a related development on the same day, Judge Kanthale also rejected bail applications from jailed corporator Sonali Vanraj Andekar and four other individuals. These rejections are connected to a separate case involving the extortion of Rs 20 crore from traders at the Nagzari-Ganesh Peth fish market. The court found prima facie evidence supporting their involvement in organized crime activities.
The other bail applicants included Shivam, Abhishek, and Shivraj—the three sons of Bandu Andekar's late brother, Udaykant Andekar—along with their aide, Sagar Balkrushna Thopate. The court reviewed the material on record, noting that the FIR assigned specific roles to certain accused individuals who allegedly visited the market to intimidate traders. Witness statements further bolstered the prosecution's case at this stage.
Additionally, the judge pointed out that substantial sums of money were deposited into Sonali Andekar's bank account without any documented legitimate source of income being presented to the court. The Faraskhana police had registered the FIR on September 20, 2025, based on a complaint from a fish traders' association functionary. The complaint alleged that the Andekar gang had been engaged in continuous extortion since 2013-14, highlighting a pattern of criminal behavior.
