3 days Ago By Asseem Shaikh
Pune: The state prosecution, on behalf of the city police, filed draft charges in the special court on Saturday to commence the trial against the 21 accused in the murder of former NCP corporator Vanraj Andekar in Nana Peth. Special Judge V R Kachare will finalise the draft charges on April 16. Assistant commissioner of police (crime) Ganesh Ingale, the investigating officer in the case, filed a report before the special judge on March 13 through the special public prosecutor, Ujjwala Pawar, and requested to expedite the murder trial within six months.
The city crime branch filed a chargesheet against the 21 accused on January 14, identifying property dispute and revenge as the prime motives behind Andekar's murder. Andekar's sister, Sanjeevani Komkar, involved in a property dispute with him, and a 2023 murder of a member of the Somnath Gaikwad gang by members of a rival gang led by Andekar's father, Suryakant alias Bandu, led Sanjeevani, her husband Jayant, and the latter's brother Prakash to conspire with Gaikwad to eliminate Andekar, stated the 1,700-page chargesheet filed before the special court. The police invoked provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act , and the Arms Act, among other laws, against the 21 accused lodged in Yerawada central prison under judicial custody.
The police filed a final report against two minor boys involved in the murder before the Juvenile Justice Board in Yerawada on January 15. The prosecution listed 39 witnesses in the chargesheet. Of these, five are eyewitnesses to the killing.
A confessional statement of a co-accused was recorded under Section 18 of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Navratri Wishes , Eid Messages and quotes !.
