Pune, 29th July 2026: The Pune Crime Branch has foiled an alleged conspiracy to attack gangster Krishna Andekar and his associates while they were being transported from Shivajinagar Court to Nandurbar Central Jail.
The planned attack was reportedly linked to the ongoing rivalry between the Bandu Andekar and Somnath Gaikwad gangs, which has been behind a series of violent incidents in the city.
Based on a complaint filed by Police Sub-Inspector Tejashree Pawar, the Bharati Vidyapeeth Police have registered a case against Suraj Ashok Thombre (24), Manav Sharad Dhamale (24), Vedant Rohit Sawant (21), Dheeraj Lakhara, and Atharva Dattatray Khopade (21), along with their associates.
Police said the rivalry intensified after former corporator Vanraj Andekar was murdered, allegedly by members of the Somnath Gaikwad gang. In retaliation, Ayush Komkar and Ganesh Kale were later killed on the instructions of Bandu Andekar. Another firing incident targeting Akshay Kale on the Pune-Satara Road further escalated tensions between the two gangs.
Krishna Andekar, along with Swaraj Wadekar and Tushar Wadekar, is currently lodged in Nandurbar Jail after being booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
According to the investigation, Krishna Andekar and the Wadekar brothers were brought to Shivajinagar Court on July 26 for a hearing. Police believe the rival gang planned to attack the police vehicle while the prisoners were being taken back to Nandurbar.
The accused allegedly conducted a reconnaissance of the Shivajinagar-to-Chakan route on motorcycles after receiving instructions from Manav Dhamale. Investigators also found that Suraj Thombre was supplied with information about the police convoy and security arrangements over the phone. Police further suspect that firearms had been arranged for carrying out the attack.
The conspiracy was uncovered by a Crime Branch team led by Police Inspector Rahulkumar Khilare of Unit II, acting under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police Tejaswi Satpute, Deputy Commissioner of Police Gauhar Hasan, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Shailesh Sankhe.
Further investigation is being carried out by Senior Police Inspector Manasing Patil of the Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station.