Pune: Cops arrest “middleman” in conspiracy to kill former corporator Vanraj Andekar

A crime branch team arrested Belhekar following a thorough technical investigation on Thursday. He was produced before a special court in Pune on Friday. The court remanded him to police custody till September 24 for further investigation, stated a press release issued by assistant commissioner of police Ganesh Ingale, the investigation officer.

The accused persons had allegedly shot Vanraj Andekar dead around 9 pm on September 1, near his residence in Nana Peth area of Pune city. Andekar was targeted while he was chatting with his cousin Shivam following a family function at their residence.

A CCTV footage from the murder scene shows a group of over a dozen individuals firing five bullets at Andekar and attacking him with sharp weapons, leaving him grievously wounded.

Vanraj’s father, Suryakant alias Bandu Andekar (68), a notorious gangster and alleged leader of the Andekar Gang, filed the First Information Report (FIR) at Samarth police station. The FIR named Vanraj’s sister Sanjivani Komkar, her husband Jayant Komkar among several others.

During investigation, police earlier arrested 19 persons Sanjivani, Jayant Komkar, his brother Ganesh Komkar, a criminal on police record Somnath Gaikwad (41), a former henchman of the Andekar gang, who later became a rival. Police also detained two minor boys for their alleged involvement in Vanraj Andekar’s murder.
Police have invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in this case.

According to the FIR, Sanjivani and Jayant Komkar believed their shop had been demolished by the PMC’s anti-encroachment department at Vanraj’s behest during his tenure as corporator. The FIR also gave a detailed account of a recent dispute involving the Andekars and Komkars.

Police suspect that following this dispute, Sanjivani and Jayant Komkar conspired to eliminate Vanraj and roped in his rival Somnath Gaikwad from Ambegaon Pathar for execution of the murder.

Police said accused Belhekar allegedly acted as a “middleman” between Komkars and Somnath Gaikwad. A technical probe into the telephone calls made by the accused persons revealed that Belehkar was in contact with Komkar and Gaikwad.

Police said it was through Belhekar that Ganesh Komkar allegedly assured Gaikwad and other assailants to provide them money and help them in securing bail if they kill Vanraj Andekar.