Pune: The Pune Crime Branch has made significant progress in the murder case of former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporator Vanraj Andekar by arresting two fugitives who had been on the run.

This brings the total number of arrests in the case to 21, including three minors. The authorities have also confiscated eight pistols, 13 cartridges, seven motorcycles, and a car from the accused.

The murder case has seen arrests of several key figures including Somnath Gaikwad, Shubham Dahibhate, Sanjeevani Komkar (Andekar’s sister), her husband Prakash Komkar, and her brother-in-law Ganesh.

Sangam Waghmare, an accused involved in supplying weapons, was recently apprehended. Late last night, the Crime Branch’s Unit 1 and the Extortion Squad successfully arrested the fugitives Sagar Pawar and Sahil Dalvi.

The operation was led by Additional Commissioner of Police Shailesh Balkawade, Deputy Commissioner of Police Nikhil Pingale, and Assistant Commissioner Ganesh Ingale, with the efforts of Inspectors Shabbir Sayyed, Pratap Mankar, Sub-Inspectors Avinash Lohote, Rahul Makhare, and their team.

The police have also taken steps to protect Shivan Andekar, an eyewitness to the murder, due to the imminent threat to his life. On September 1, Vanraj Andekar was murdered in Nana Peth, where he was shot and stabbed.

Shivan, who was present during the attack, was also targeted but managed to escape, thus saving his life. His lawyer had previously requested police protection, which has now been granted, as confirmed by the police.