India, Dec. 12 -- A Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court has cleared the way for alleged gangster Bandu alias Suryakant Ranuji Andekar and two of his family members to contest the upcoming local body elections, including Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The court ruled that the right to contest elections is a constitutional guarantee and cannot be denied solely because an individual is in judicial custody.

According to the order issued on Wednesday, Bandu, his daughter-in-law Sonali Vanraj Andekar, and sister-in-law Laxmi Udaykant Andekar are permitted to file nomination papers. The court noted that they may do so with police escort as required.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has stated that the...