**Pune Police Crack Down on Andekar Gang Following Murder of 18-Year-Old Ayush Komkar**
After the murder of 18-year-old Ayush Komkar, Pune Police have intensified their crackdown on the notorious Andekar Gang and its family members, who have been implicated in various criminal cases. Simultaneously, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken decisive action by demolishing illegal structures established by the gang and their relatives in Nana Peth’s fish market and other locations.
According to sources, more than 70 shop owners operating in the area have jointly filed complaints against the cruelty and extortion practices of the gang members with the Pune Police.
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### 13 Arrests Made So Far in Ayush Komkar Murder Case
Ayush Komkar was murdered on September 5 in Nana Peth, in what is alleged to be a conspiracy masterminded by his grandfather, Suryakant alias Bandu Ranoji Andekar. The murder was reportedly carried out as an act of revenge for the death of Bandu’s son, Vanraj Andekar (40), a former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporator, who was shot dead near his residence in Nana Peth on September 1, 2024.
Following a complaint lodged by Ayush’s mother, Kalyani, the police booked 15 individuals in connection with the case. These include Bandu (68), his son Krushna alias Krushnaraj Suryakant Andekar (40), nephews Shivam Udaykant Andekar (31), Shivraj Udaykant Andekar (29), and Abhishek Udaykant Andekar (21), their mother Lakshmi Udaykant Andekar (60), as well as sister Vrundavani Nilanjay Wadekar (40) and her children Swaraj (22) and Tushar Nilanjay Wadekar (26).
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### History of the Andekar Gang
The Andekar family’s involvement in criminal activities dates back to the 1970s. Initially, the family ran a utensil business that involved exchanging new utensils for old clothes. However, Bandu’s brother, Balu Andekar, reportedly committed the family’s first crime in 1970 when he attacked a local goon over a minor dispute, breaking the man’s finger.
Balu capitalized on the fear his actions stirred among local residents and formed a gang that began extorting money from vendors. To assert dominance, he eliminated a rival, Appa Taru of Kasba Peth, in 1975 by collaborating with another local goon, Promod Malvadkar.
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### Dispute and Gang Wars Between Andekar and Malvadkar Crews
The alliance between Balu Andekar and Promod Malvadkar soured, leading to a violent fallout. On July 17, 1984, Malvadkar murdered Balu with swords in the Shivajinagar court premises. This assassination escalated into a gang war between the Andekar and Malvadkar factions, resulting in the deaths of six people, including Malvadkar’s father, brother, and a cousin.
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### Rise of Gangster Suryakant Alias Bandu Andekar
Bandu Andekar was implicated in multiple cases related to the murders linked to the Malvadkar gang conflict. A Pune court sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Despite this, upon release, Bandu declared himself the gang’s leader and resumed extorting ‘hafta’ (protection money) from local vendors.
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### Andekar Family’s Political Influence
The Andekar gang’s influence extended into politics. While Bandu was operating criminal activities, his brothers Udaykant and Ramakant won Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) corporator elections. Additionally, Bandu’s wife Rajashree Andekar was elected to civic offices twice, in 2007 and 2012. His son, Vanraj Andekar, secured a PMC corporator seat in 2017 on an NCP ticket.
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### Criminal Records of the Andekar Gang Members
Over the years, multiple cases have been filed against the Andekar gang:
– **Bandu Andekar:** 17 cases since 1981, including murder, riots, extortion, Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA), and Arms Act violations.
– **Krushnaraj Suryakant Andekar:** 8 cases.
– **Shivam Andekar:** 5 cases, among others.
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### Extortion from Fish Market Vendors
From 2012 onwards, the gang intensified extortion activities by demanding protection money from fish market vendors, under the pretext of shielding them from PMC encroachment drives. Leveraging their criminal and political influence, gang members demanded over ₹50,000 per vendor monthly, reportedly collecting more than ₹40 lakh every month from the fish market alone.
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### Police Action and Current Developments
Nikhil Pingale, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), informed *The Free Press Journal* that 15 individuals are presently in custody in connection with the Ayush Komkar murder case.
With over 70 vendors having already lodged complaints relating to the gang’s criminal activities, police expect additional reports in the near future.
The ongoing scrutiny of the Andekar gang’s illegal activities by law enforcement serves as a stern warning to other criminals operating in the region.
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*The Pune Police and PMC remain committed to restoring law and order in Nana Peth and its surrounding areas, strengthening efforts to dismantle criminal networks that have long exploited local communities.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/from-selling-utensils-to-running-extortion-rackets-the-story-of-punes-andekar-gang
