Pune: The police have revealed that the suspects involved in the murder of former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporator Vanraj Andekar had engaged in target practice with firearms before carrying out the crime.

Authorities are currently tracking down the locations where this practice took place as part of an ongoing investigation into the case. There is a strong possibility that additional suspects may be implicated in the murder, according to information presented by the police in court on Monday.

The court has extended the police custody of three key suspects in the case: Sagar Rajendra Pawar (32), a resident of Narhe; Sahil alias Takya Nilesh Dalvi (19) from Dhankawadi; and Prasad Pandurang Belhekar (33) from Nana Peth.

Their custody has been extended until October 5, 2024. Special Judge V.R. Kachare also ordered the remand of 12 other accused to Yerawada Jail.

The accused were presented before the court as their earlier remand period had come to an end. Special Public Prosecutor Pramod Bombatkar argued for the extension of police custody for Pawar, Dalvi, and Belhekar.

He stressed the need for further interrogation of the accused, including the alleged masterminds Ganesh Lakshman Komkar and Somnath Sayaji Gaikwad, along with Pawar and his associates.

The police have so far seized 10 machetes from the suspects, but three more weapons used in the murder are still missing. Additionally, investigators are probing who provided financial support for the purchase of firearms and where the suspects practiced shooting prior to the crime.

Taking into account the prosecution's arguments, the court extended police custody for the three accused while ordering the other 12 suspects to be remanded to Yerawada Jail. So far, 21 people have been arrested in connection with the murder of Vanraj Andekar, including two minors.