Cops to rope in forensic auditor to uncover illicit wealth, ‘shadowy income sources’ of Andekar gang

IN A coordinated crackdown on the criminal syndicate led by gangster Bandu Andekar following the murder of his own teenage grandson Ayush Komkar, the Pune City Police are set to appoint a forensic auditor to uncover the full extent of the gang's illicit empire, tracing its hidden assets, illegal wealth, and shadowy sources of income. Ayush was allegedly shot multiple times by two gunmen in the parking lot of his residential building in Bhavani Peth on September 5 in what is suspected to be an act of revenge for the murder of former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporator Vanraj Andekar, Bandu's son, in September last year. Ayush was son of Bandu Andekar's daughter Kalyani Komkar, whose husband Ganesh Komkar is prime accused in Vanraj's murder. Express had earlier reported that a deepening rift within the crime family of Bandu Andekar over the 70-year-old patriarch's illicit wealth and control of his criminal stronghold is suspected to be the central reason behind the murders of its two members — Bandu's son Vanraj and the former's daughter's son Ayush Komkar — one year apart. This family feud is fueled by two factions of the once-undivided Andekar gang, a probe revealed. Police have till now arrested a total of 15 persons in connection with Ayush's murder, including Bandu himself. As the police launched a probe into the murder, they also initiated a coordinated crackdown against the gang's illicit financial empire. The gang led by Bandu has been involved in various criminal activities including the collection of protection money or hafta from small businesses to extorting larger amounts from bigger businesses and commercial enterprises from the area under their influence. They are also involved in running gambling dens and engaged in land and property deals using muscle power. The family is said to have acquired several commercial and residential properties, and has stakes in various types of contracts, which they have obtained through their muscle power, officials said. As police launched the crackdown, they froze 27 bank accounts with about Rs 50.66 lakh, which are linked to members of the gang. Police were also probing movable and immovable assets as well as family members linked to gang activities. "We are in the process of appointing a forensic auditor who is an expert in investigating assets and finances which are proceeds of organised crime. The auditor will investigate and prepare a report on all the hidden assets, illegal wealth, and shadowy sources of income of the Andekar gang. This report will be part of the key evidence submitted to the court as the gang is prosecuted for murder, linked financial activities and organised crime. The final order on the appointment of the forensic auditor firm is expected in a couple of days," a senior police officer said. A day after the murder of Ayush Komkar, Yash Siddheshwar Patil (19) and Amit Prakash Patole (19) were arrested. Aman Yusuf Pathan (25) and Sujal Rahul Mergu (19) were arrested on September 8. The four accused are alleged to have executed the crime. Police subsequently arrested gang leader Suryakant Ranoji Andekar (70), his daughter Vrundavani Nilanjay Wadekar (45) and her sons Tushar (27) and Swaraj (23). On September 14, the police arrested four more Andekar family members from Dwarka in Gujarat, including Bandu's sister-in-law — who is the wife of Bandu's brother Udaykant, Laxmi Andekar and her three sons Shivam (31), Shivraj (29) and Abhishek (21). Police had invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the gang in Ayush's murder and the investigation has since been transferred to the Crime Branch. Four more accused, including Bandu's son Krushna and Vanraj's wife, had been arrested, taking the total arrests to 15. Illegal structures linked to gang razed In a joint anti-encroachment drive conducted by the Pune Municipal Corporation of Pune City Police, several illegal structures linked to the Andekar family and the criminal gang were demolished on Monday. The action was undertaken amid a heavy police deployment in the area. These structures included several hoardings, flex boards and structures that had photos and hoardings linked to the Andekar gang. Rs 20 cr protection money from fish vendors over 12 yrs A separate offence was registered against members of the gang and family on Monday at Faraskhana police station in connection with large sums of protection money taken by the criminal syndicate from a group of fish vendors in the area. "Following stringent action taken by the police against the Andekar gang, some local traders have felt confident to come forward. Investigation suggests that the gang amassed over Rs 20 crore over the last 12 years froma a group of some fish vendors. We are urging people to come forward and report to us if they have been targeted by the Andekar gang," said a senior police officer.