On Friday, Pune’s Faraskhana police arrested Shivam Udaykant Andekar, 29, the leader of a notorious gang, along with his aide Akash Pardeshi (28), for allegedly extorting around ₹48 lakh over nearly eight years from a fish vendor in Nana Peth’s Nana Peth-Ganesh Peth area.
It was reported by the victim, a 38-year-old fish stall owner, that Shivam and his gang had been demanding ₹50,000 every month, enforced through threats to kill him or shut down his business since 2016. The extortion was carried out both in cash and online, collecting nearly ₹48 lakh by April 2025.
Details About The Incident
In May, the vendor’s refusal to pay led to a confrontation. Shivam’s gang reportedly wrecked his fish stall, disposing of goods worth approximately ₹90,000, and booting him off the premises. The vendor had to park another vendor’s stall to continue working under similar threats.
The fish vendor lived in fear for years. But after enduring threats, extortion, and even damage to his stall, he finally gathered the courage to approach the police. After, based on his complaint, an FIR was filed against Shivam Andekar and several others involved in the extortion racket.
Police’s Statement On The Matter
Inspector Prashant Bhasme of Faraskhana Police Station confirmed the lengthy extortion and intimidation tactics, as well as the damage to the stall. He added that legal action continues, with authorities searching for other members of the gang involved. With the arrests made, the case has now been handed over to the city crime branch for a deeper probe, bringing a ray of hope that justice may finally be served.
Shivam hails from the Doke Talim area in Nana Peth. He is the son of late corporator Udaykant Andekar. His uncle, Suryakant alias “Bandu” Andekar, heads the infamous Andekar gang and carries a history of murder and extortion since the mid-1990s. Bandu’s son was fatally shot in September 2024
