Pune, 10 September 2025: Crime Branch officials arrested Surajkanta alias Bandu Ranoji Andekar (68) along with five others in connection with the murder of Ayush Komkar, son of Ganesh Komkar, an accused in the Vanraj Andekar murder case. With these arrests, eight people are now in custody, while five more remain on the run.
The arrested include Bandu Andekar, Swaraj Wadnekar (22), Vrundavani Wadnekar (40), and Tushar Wadnekar (26), who were caught in Buldhana district. Two others, Aman Yusuf Pathan alias Khan and Sujal Rahul Meragu (23), both residents of Nana Peth, were arrested in Pune. Earlier, police had arrested Amit Prakash Patole (19) and Yash Siddheshwar Patil, who are currently in police custody until September 12.
According to investigators, 13 people have been booked in the case. Those still absconding include Abhishek Andekar (21), Krishna alias Krishnaraj Andekar (40), Laxmi Andekar (60), Shivraj Andekar (29), and Shivam alias Shubham Andekar (31), all from Nana Peth.
The murder took place on September 5, when Ayush (20), a second-year engineering student at MIT, went to pick up his younger brother from classes. Gunmen opened fire on him in Nana Peth, hitting him with 11 bullets.
His younger brother witnessed the attack. Police allege that Yash Patil and Aman Pathan fired the shots, while Amit Patole and Sujal Meragu waited on a motorcycle before fleeing with the shooters.
Officials revealed that the accused had earlier planned to target relatives of rival gangster Somnath Gaikwad at Ambegaon Pathar, but after police foiled that attempt, they turned their focus on Ayush. Bandu Andekar had fled the state but was traced to Buldhana, where he was caught along with his aides.
The arrested accused were produced before a magistrate in Pune on Tuesday evening. Prosecutors argued that they had conspired and used firearms to commit the crime and sought custody for detailed interrogation. The court granted police custody until September 15.
When asked in court if he had any complaints against the police, Bandu Andekar said he had been in Kerala when the murder took place and claimed he was falsely implicated in the case.