Touted as one of the toughest civic contests till now, political parties are leaving no stone unturned to see their numbers higher than their rival parties. This has provided an opportunity to many accused booked for serious crimes to either jump into the election fray themselves or get their close relatives in the electoral contest—all with an aim to get political benefit in countering the allegations being levelled against them. This is also seen as an attempt to retain their hold in their areas, despite being in jail. Though, no political party has so far declared them as their candidate, the situation is likely to become clear in the coming few days.For political parties, it seems the popularity factors and winning ability matters more than the records of the accused. Here are those with tainted records or their relatives who have jumped into the fray.Jayashree Marne: Wife of gangster Gajanan MarneJayashree Marne, wife of dreaded gangster Gajanan alias Gaja Marne alias Maharaj, has filed her nomination for the PMC polls. Jayshree had won in the 2012 civic elections on a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) ticket. Jayashree does not have any criminal record. She is contesting from ward number 10.Gaja Marne was arrested by the Pune city police in connection with the February 19 attack on IT engineer Devendra Jog—also a supporter of Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol— at a Shiv Jayanti procession at Bhelke Nagar in Kothrud. Police have invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against Marne and his gang in the case.Marne, who has close to 30 serious criminal cases registered against him, had hit the headlines in February 2021 when a rally comprising dozens of luxury cars was taken out in his support on the Mumbai Expressway after he was released from Taloja prison. At the time, Marne was released from prison after a court acquitted him and 13 of his aides over the lack of evidence in the murder of Santosh Hiraman Gawade alias Pappu, a rival gang member. Several close aides of Gaja Marne were booked by Pune police in connection with the controversial highway rally.Close to 30 high-end cars that were part of the rally were also seized by the Pune police. As the Maharashtra Police was criticised over the rally, multiple cases were slapped against Gajanan and his aides in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Raigad and Navi Mumbai jurisdiction. One offence was also registered against them for spreading social media posts glorifying the gangster, which were in circulation since his release from Taloja prison.Bapu NayarBapu Nayar, who is in his mid-40s and leads an alleged criminal gang, has a long history of involvement in serious criminal activities. He has been named in close to 15 cases, including that of murder, attempt to murder, extortion, kidnapping, land grabbing and other major offences. He has filed his nomination from ward number 39.Story continues below this adNayar has been arrested multiple times in the past. In May 2016, he was arrested in a land-grabbing and extortion case after months on the run. In recent years, he has also been lodged in Yerwada Central Prison under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). While incarcerated, police investigations linked him to the murder of a Shiv Sena youth leader in Pune in 2020.*** *** *** ***Andekar familyBandu Andekar and his two family members, who are currently in prison under judicial custody for the brutal murder his teenage grandson Ayush Komkar, were allowed by a court in Pune to contest the civic elections after they had moved an application. Along with Bandu Andekar, his sister-in-law Lakshmi Udaykant Andekar and daughter-in-law Sonali Vanraj Andekar were allowed to contest the upcoming civic elections in Pune. They filed nominations from ward number 23.Ayush (19) was allegedly shot by two gunmen in Bhavani Peth on September 5, 2025, in what is suspected to be an act of revenge for the murder of former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporator Vanraj Andekar, Bandu Andekar’s son, in September 2024. Ayush was the son of Bandu Andekar’s daughter Kalyani Komkar, whose husband Ganesh Komkar is a prime accused in Vanraj’s murder. Pune police have till now arrested 16 people, including Bandu alias Suryakant (70), his brother Udaykant’s wife Laxmi (60) and Vanraj’s wife Sonali (35).The Indian Express has earlier reported that a deepening rift within the notorious crime family of gangster Bandu Andekar over the 70-year-old patriarch’s illicit wealth and control of his criminal stronghold is suspected to be the central reason behind the murders of its two members — Bandu Andekar’ son Vanraj Andekar and daughter’s son Ayush Komkar — one year apart. This family feud is fueled by two factions of the once-undivided Andekar gang, probe has revealed.Story continues below this adThe gang led by Bandu Andekar has been involved in various criminal activities, including collection of protection money or hafta from small businesses to extorting larger amounts from bigger businesses and commercial enterprises from the area under their influence. They are also involved in running gambling dens and in land and property deals using muscle power. The family is said to have acquired several commercial and residential properties, and has stakes in various types of contracts, which they have obtained through their muscle power, said police officials.Swati Mohol, wife of slain gangster Sharad MoholSwati Mohol is the wife of slain gangster Sharad Hiraman Mohol, who was a notorious history-sheeter from Pune known for his involvement in serious criminal activities including murder, extortion and organised crime. He came from Mutha village in Mulshi taluka and was reportedly linked to organised crime activity for years, with around 15 cases registered against him.Mohol was accused in several high-profile crimes, including the 2012 murder of suspected Indian Mujahideen operative Qateel Siddiqui inside Yerwada Jail, although he and an associate were later acquitted due to lack of evidence. On January 5, 2024, Sharad Mohol was shot dead near his residence in Kothrud over longstanding dispute and gang rivalry. Probe revealed Mohol’s killing was well-planned, with police later filing a detailed chargesheet against 18 accused.-With inputs from Ajay Jadhav