Pune Police Detail Firearms Practice in Ayush Komkar Murder Case

The Pune city police have revealed significant details regarding the investigation into the murder of Ayush Komkar. During a hearing on Monday, they informed the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court that the alleged shooters, Yash Patil and Aman Pathan, returned the firearms used in the murder to their co-accused, Krushna Andekar. Following this, Andekar provided them with different firearms for practice, which were later recovered from Pathan. Notably, the guns used in the actual murder remain unseized.

In a session presided over by Special Judge S R Salunkhe, the police presented Patil and another co-accused, Amit Patole, who is described as a backup participant in the crime. They sought an extension of Patil’s custodial remand for an additional ten days, while requesting judicial custody for Patole. The court granted judicial custody to both individuals until October 6, 2024.

According to police statements, the accused engaged in firing practice in Nana Peth on August 29, 2024. Investigators indicated the necessity of conducting a spot panchnama to ascertain the number of bullets fired during this practice session. The murder of 18-year-old Ayush Komkar occurred in the basement parking of his residential building in Nana Peth around 19:30 on September 5, 2024. This incident is believed to be an act of revenge for the murder of gangster Bandu Andekar‘s son, Vanraj, on September 1, 2024.

Special Public Prosecutor Vilas Patare emphasized that four pistols were provided to the assailants for the crime, indicating that the firing practice conducted prior to the murder requires further investigation. In response, defense lawyer Manoj More argued that the police had sufficient time to investigate the claims regarding the pistols, which came to light following Pathan’s arrest on September 9, 2024.

Judge Salunkhe noted the need for thorough investigation, stating, “There was ample time for the investigation officer to probe the points.” This case continues to unfold, with law enforcement focused on unraveling the connections between the accused and the events leading to the tragic murder of Ayush Komkar.