Pune: Shivam Andekar and Akash Pardeshi, key members of the notorious Andekar gang, were arrested late last night in connection with a long-standing extortion case involving a businessman from Machhi Market, Ganesh Peth. The accused allegedly collected Rs 50,000 monthly as protection money for the past eight years, amounting to nearly Rs 48 lakh in total extortion.
The case came to light after the businessman stopped paying the protection money in May. In retaliation, the gang forcefully threw goods worth Rs 90,000 out of the shop and later loaded them into a tempo, taking them away by force. A 40-year-old businessman lodged a complaint at Pharasakhana Police Station on June 6, prompting police action.
The accused, Shivam Udaykant Andekar (30), resident of Ashok Chowk, Nana Peth, and Akash Pardeshi (30), resident of Lohiyanagar, along with 4 to 5 other gang members, have been charged with robbery and extortion. Police Commissioner Nikhil Pingle, Assistant Police Commissioner Anuja Deshmane, and senior officers visited the crime scene as part of the investigation.
According to police reports, Shivam Andekar had threatened the complainant with serious consequences in 2016 to demand monthly protection money. Akash Pardeshi has been involved in collecting the amount through cash and online payments since then.
Shivam Andekar is the son of former corporator Udaykant Andekar and has a history of involvement in serious crimes including extortion, assault, and intimidation. He was declared a proclaimed offender in 2020 but returned to Pune after the expiry of his proclamation. In 2021, he was involved in a violent confrontation with police at Pashan, leading to his arrest along with five others.
The Faraskhana Police continue to investigate the matter further under the supervision of Crime Inspector Ajit Jadhav.
