Overview
- A special MCOCA court permitted Suryakant ‘Bandu’ Andekar, Laxmi Andekar and Sonali Andekar to submit Pune Municipal Corporation nominations under police escort with a ban on processions, slogans and public speeches.
- The trio, all in judicial custody in the Ayush Komkar murder case, were taken from Yerawada Central Prison to the PMC’s Bhavani Peth ward office to file as independent candidates.
- Election officials said the papers lodged on Saturday were incomplete and therefore not accepted, adding the candidates may refile within the nomination window that closes on December 30.
- While entering the ward office, Bandu Andekar raised victory signs and shouted campaign lines such as “neki ka kam, Andekar ka naam,” drawing attention to compliance with the court’s conditions.
- Police link the September 5 killing of Ayush Komkar to an ongoing family feud that followed the earlier alleged murder of former corporator Vanraj Andekar, with the civic polls scheduled for January 15, 2026.