Pune: Ganesh Komkar and Somnath Gaikwad, the main accused in the murder of former NCP corporator Vanraj Andekar, have been remanded to police custody until October 1.
Special Judge V. R. Karche of the MCOCA Court issued the order during a hearing held on Saturday (September 28).
Ganesh Laxman Komkar (37) and Somnath Sayaji Gaikwad (41) were arrested earlier this month, with Komkar taken into judicial custody on September 15 and Gaikwad on September 16.
Acting on a production warrant from the MCOCA Court, the police transferred the accused from Yerawada Jail and presented them before the court under the supervision of Assistant Police Commissioner Ganesh Ingle.
During the hearing, Public Prosecutor Rajesh Kavediya argued that Andekar’s murder was a result of a gang war and emphasized the need to investigate further to uncover additional accomplices.
The prosecutor highlighted that 21 individuals have been arrested so far in connection with the case, and integrating the statements of the gang leaders with those of the arrested suspects is essential for a comprehensive investigation.
The court was informed that the gang leaders allegedly accumulated both movable and immovable properties through organized criminal activities. It was revealed that both accused had practiced firing pistols before committing the crime, with investigations still pending regarding the exact locations of these practice sessions.
The police have also recovered seven of the ten machetes used in the crime, with efforts underway to seize the remaining three.
Furthermore, the prosecution sought to determine if any external forces had influenced or enticed the accused to commit the murder. The mobile phones of the accused have been seized, and technical analysis of the Call Detail Records (CDR) and Subscriber Detail Records (SDR) is being conducted to identify any other potential participants in the crime.
Investigations revealed that the accused procured a significant quantity of weapons, including pistols and machetes, from Madhya Pradesh. Authorities are probing who financed these purchases and are working to track down the suppliers and locations involved. The police requested a ten-day custody extension to complete these critical aspects of the investigation.
Advocates Pushkar Patil, Akash Kamthe, and Ruturaj Pasalkar represented Ganesh Komkar, while Advocate Vishwajeet Patil appeared for Somnath Gaikwad. The court has ordered both accused to remain in police custody until October 1 as the investigation continues.