Pune: In a major breakthrough in the murder case of former NCP corporator Vanraj Andekar, the Pune Police Crime Branch arrested Prasad Belhekar,
the alleged mastermind behind the brutal killing. A court has ordered that Belhekar remain in custody until September 24 as investigations continue.
The murder, which shocked the Nana Peth area of Pune, took place on September 1, when Andekar was shot multiple times and attacked with a machete.
The police have attributed the murder to a combination of personal and political conflicts, driven by both family disputes and a power struggle in the local community. So far, 20 people have been arrested, with two minors taken into custody.
Belhekar, 33, who has a notorious history and is involved with the Suraj Thombre gang in Nana Peth, had been absconding since the murder. Police have confirmed that four serious criminal cases,
including an attempt to murder, have been registered against him. He is believed to have orchestrated the killing in collaboration with Somnath Gaikwad and Ganesh Komkar.
According to the investigation, the plot to kill Andekar was born out of a longstanding rivalry. Gaikwad had been seeking revenge for the murder of his associate, Nikhil Akhade, which took place a year ago.
In December last year, Gaikwad, Komkar, and Belhekar met to discuss the plan, which Belhekar had organized. The trio remained in close contact through social media, with police uncovering technical evidence that further implicates them in the conspiracy.
In addition to Belhekar's arrest, several of Andekar's relatives, including his sister Sanjivani, brother-in-law Prakash, and others such as Jayant, Ganesh, Komkar, Somnath Gaikwad, and Aniket Dudhbate, have also been taken into custody.
Police say that Ganesh, Andekar’s brother-in-law, was tasked with securing bail for the accused and arranging finances to facilitate the plot.
During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that one of the three minors initially detained is actually an adult. Shree Tatyasaheb Gaikwad, aged 18, has been officially arrested in connection with the case.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ganesh Ingle, confirmed that Prasad Belhekar played a pivotal role in organizing the murder and that the police have strong evidence supporting his involvement.