Pune: The court of special judge (MCOCA) SS Kanthale has rejected the second bail application of jailed corporator Laxmi Udaykant Andekar in the Sept 5, 2025, murder of Ayush Komkar (18), holding that her conduct before and after the crime reflected her involvement in the conspiracy that cannot be ruled out at this stage.Kanthale referred to the prosecution’s case that applicant Laxmi was in touch with supplier of arms and co-accused Munaf Pathan and Aman Pathan as per the call detail record report. Aman is the co-accused killer who shot dead Ayush. She made five calls to Munaf in June and July, last year. Laxmi had no reason to communicate with such people when she claims no involvement with the world of crime, the judge said on April 20.The judge said Laxmi and her three sons fled in a private car after the incident and were traced and nabbed in Dwarka, Gujarat. The act gave reasonable ground to believe she was part of the criminal conspiracy.Two assailants shot dead Ayush (18) in the parking area of his building in Nana Peth. He was the son of Ganesh Komkar, co-accused in the murder of former NCP corporator Vanraj Andekar on Sept 1, 2024. Komkar is also Vanraj’s brother-in-law. The police then registered a murder and criminal conspiracy case against Ayush’s grandfather and gangster Suryakant alias Bandu Andekar and 12 others based on his mother’s complaint.The murder was seen as an act to avenge Vanraj’s murder. The property dispute between Vanraj and his two sisters, who are married to Komkar brothers Jayant and Ganesh, contributed to his murder. The Andekar gang was allegedly looking for an opportunity to avenge his death, police said.Meanwhile, Kanthale on April 20 rejected bail applications of jailed corporator Sonali Vanraj Andekar and four others in the case of extortion of Rs20 crore from traders at the Nagzari-Ganesh Peth fish market. The judge held that there was prima facie material supporting their involvement in the alleged organised crime. Shivam, Abhishek and Shivraj — the three sons of Bandu’s brother the late Udaykant Andekar— and their aide Sagar Balkrushna Thopate were the other bail applicants.The court referred to the material on record and held that the FIR attributed specific roles to certain accused people, who allegedly visited the market and intimidated traders. Additionally, witnesses’ statements supported the prosecution’s case at this stage. It also noted that substantial amounts were credited to the bank account held by Sonali sans any documented legitimate source of income placed before the court.The Faraskhana police had registered the FIR on Sept 20, 2025, based on a complaint by a fish traders’ association functionary alleging the Andekar gang’s continued extortion since 2013-14.
