The vessel, identified as Haridwar Krupa, was intercepted near Prongs Lighthouse after it allegedly ignored warnings from Coast Guard personnel and attempted to evade interception, it said.

The operation was carried out on October 12 following surveillance of suspicious maritime movements in the area.

Boat allegedly received 4,000 litres of diesel

According to the Indian Coast Guard, its ships were directed to maintain a close watch near Prongs Lighthouse after receiving information about suspicious activity at sea.

During the patrol, Coast Guard personnel spotted the fishing boat operating near a merchant vessel. When challenged over the VHF maritime communication channel, the boat allegedly failed to respond, ignored repeated warnings and attempted to flee, the ICG said.

A Coast Guard ship pursued the vessel and eventually intercepted it.

During a subsequent search, the boat's master allegedly admitted to receiving around 4,000 litres of diesel at sea, according to the Coast Guard's preliminary investigation, the statement said.

Crew dumped diesel during chase

It said that the preliminary investigation also indicated that the crew had allegedly discharged around 500 litres of diesel into the sea during the pursuit in an attempt to destroy evidence.

The boarding team confiscated operational documents and six mobile phones for further investigation.

The Indian Coast Guard has not disclosed further details about the suspected source of the diesel or the merchant vessel's role in the alleged operation. However, further probe into the matter is underway.

Joint investigation launched

The fishing boat, its crew and the seized evidence were escorted to Mumbai Harbour.

A joint investigation involving the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) and Maharashtra

Police has been initiated to establish the circumstances of the incident and determine the possible involvement of others.

"The vessel, along with confiscated documents and electronics, has been escorted to Mumbai harbour for a comprehensive joint investigation by the ICG, Indian Navy, State Intelligence Bureau (SIB), Fisheries, Customs, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and State Police," the ICG said.

The baby was allegedly snatched from a ragpicker in Ambernath town around 7 pm on October 10 by a speech-and hearing-impaired woman, who then handed him over to her associates as part of a plan to sell the child, senior inspector Shabbir Sayyed of Ambernath police station said, the news agency reported.

Police trace baby to Dharavi

During the initial investigation, the police detained one of the accused, Sony Ganesh, 19, who allegedly told investigators that the baby had been handed over to her relative, Ruksar Faroukh Shaikh, 32, a resident of Dharavi in Mumbai, as per the PTI.

Using technical intelligence and mobile phone details, police teams traced the suspect to Dharavi and safely rescued the infant within four hours, Sayyed said.

The baby was subsequently rescued by the police, bringing the search operation to a swift end.

Five accused arrested

The police have arrested five people in connection with the alleged kidnapping. They have been identified as Parvati Nagraj, 38, a speech- and hearing-impaired woman; Sony Ganesh, 19; Shaktivel Parameshwam, 37; Nisha Shaktivel, 30; and Ruksar Faroukh Shaikh, 32, according to the PTI.

According to the police, the accused allegedly planned to sell the baby after he was kidnapped.

Case registered under child protection laws

A case has been registered against the accused under relevant provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Further investigation is under way to establish the individual roles of the accused and determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged plan to sell the infant.

Six-month-old baby kidnapped from Mumbai's Kurla

Meanwhile, in an another incident in September this year, Mumbai Police had rescued a six-month-old baby within four hours after the child was allegedly abducted from a house in Kurla West, officials had earlier said.

According to police, the incident had taken place between 5.30 am and 6 am at Kamalabai Chawl near Gaurishankar Temple in Masrani Lane, Halav Pool, Kurla West.

The child's 20-year-old mother, lodged a complaint at Vinoba Bhave Nagar Police Station, following which a case was registered under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

Police identified the accused who allegedly took the infant from the mother's custody without her consent while the baby was asleep.

Following registration of the case, Senior Police Inspector Amit Tad directed all patrolling units, the detection team, surveillance squad and other police teams to begin an intensive search operation leading to accused's arrest.

(with PTI inputs)

According to the police, the accused would visit garment shops, select clothes and obtain the shopkeeper’s mobile number. 

They would then send a fake message claiming the payment had been credited to the shopkeeper’s bank account and leave with the goods.

First complaint

One of the incidents took place on September 11 at Shop No. 2, Shubhra Apartments, Khar West, owned by Rajesh Narsi Patel, according to the police. “The accused sent a fake message claiming that the amount had been credited to the shopkeeper’s account and escaped with the goods. When the shopkeeper realised he had been cheated, he approached the police and registered an FIR,” a police officer said.

Investigating team

. Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr Mohitkumar Garg
. Senior Inspector Santosh Kate
. Police Sub-Inspector Shailesh Chaudhary and team

Accused held from Nashik

Acting on a tip-off and technical surveillance, the Khar police tracked the accused — Sameer Parhan, 30; Mohsin Shaikh, 19; and Kaif Saha, 24 — to Qureshi Nagar in Nashik and arrested them. The police also recovered 240 garments, including shirts, trousers, sweaters, jeans, and track pants, along with mobile phones used to send fake payment confirmations. 

Accused held from Nashik

Acting on a tip-off and technical surveillance, the Khar police tracked the accused — Sameer Parhan, 30; Mohsin Shaikh, 19; and Kaif Saha, 24 — to Qureshi Nagar in Nashik and arrested them. The police also recovered 240 garments, including shirts, trousers, sweaters, jeans, and track pants, along with mobile phones used to send fake payment confirmations. 

Cops advise...

. Verify payments through your bank account before handing over goods
. Contact your bank to confirm a payment if in doubt
. Ignore collect requests claiming to offer incoming funds
. Never enter your UPI PIN to receive money or unlock a payment
. Avoid unknown links and APK files received through WhatsApp, SMS or email claiming pending refunds, KYC updates, or cash prizes

The accused, identified as Mayur Chandrakant Thakre, was arrested by the Property Cell of the Crime Branch on October 12, police said.

Thakre was produced before a court and remanded to police custody until October 17. Further investigation into the case is underway, officials said.

Property Cell makes arrest

According to the police, the arrest was made in connection with Mumbai Crime Branch case, registered in connection with the alleged MPSC examination paper leak.

Thakre was a wanted accused in the case before his arrest on Monday. The police are continuing their investigation to establish the roles of those allegedly involved in the paper leak.

Twelve accused arrested so far

With Thakre’s arrest, the total number of accused arrested in the case has risen to 12.

The accused’s police custody will continue until October 17, during which investigators may question him as part of the ongoing probe.

Exams cancelled

The MPSC cancelled the recruitment process for Drug Inspector Group-B posts under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following a preliminary inquiry into alleged malpractice in the screening examination conducted earlier this year.

The MPSC earlier received complaints regarding alleged irregularities in the screening examination.

The complaints claimed some candidates had received the question paper or questions before the examination and that the material was subsequently circulated through social media and other electronic platforms, the commission said in its statement.

False identity

The accused, identified as Shameer TP from Kannur, posed as the owner to persuade employees to transfer money into his account between August 19 and 31, 2026. Following a complaint, police registered a case and traced the transactions to identify the accused.

Money trail

Investigators found that Rs 32 lakh of the cheated amount had been deposited into an IndusInd Bank account. They analysed its transactions and traced the money trail to Kannur. A police team travelled to Kerala and arrested Shameer on October 3. He is being questioned to establish his role and trace the remaining money.

[popcorn number="Oct 3" desc="Day police arrested Shameer TP in Kannur" class="Default"]

Six complaints

The investigation revealed the accused’s account allegedly received money linked to six other cyber fraud complaints across different states. Authorities are scrutinising other bank accounts, mobile numbers, and financial transactions to determine his involvement in other fraud cases and trace where the cheated money went.

Ongoing probe

The case highlights how messaging platform impersonation exploits internal trust. Police are continuing their investigation to establish the full extent of the operation and identify any other individuals who may have benefited from the transactions.

The suspects, identified as Santosh Kanojia alias Talli and Amit Singh alias Paplu, were formally arrested in Thane and handed over to the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC), news agency PTI reported. They will be produced before a local court on Monday, where the police will seek their custody for further investigation, the official said.

With their arrests, the number of people arrested in the case has risen to five. The other accused are Subhash alias Pappya Shinde, Nikhil Yadav and Nitesh Pawar.

Purnekar, who served as the ward chief of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) in Manpada, was killed on September 29. He was shot at and attacked with a chopper, police said.

According to the police, around six rounds were fired during the attack, with two bullets hitting Purnekar. Investigators recovered three empty shell casings and one live cartridge from the crime scene. The attackers allegedly assaulted him with a chopper after firing at him.

During the investigation, the police seized a pistol from Pawar. Yadav's mobile phone and the vehicle allegedly used by the accused to flee after the attack were also impounded.

The police have yet to establish the exact motive behind the murder.

Pradeep Purnekar's family seeks CBI probe, cites fears of political interference

The latest arrests come amid demands by Purnekar's family for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder. The family has expressed concern over possible local political interference in the investigation and sought a fair inquiry.

On Friday, the family met visiting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including legislators Sanjay Kelkar and Niranjan Davkhare, and urged them to arrange an urgent meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. They sought assurances that the investigation would proceed without political pressure.

Purnekar was attacked outside his office. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital but succumbed to his injuries during emergency treatment.

(With PTI inputs)

According to the press note issued by D.B. Marg Police Station, the theft took place beneath Kennedy Bridge on S.V.P. Road, near Queen Mary School in the Grant Road area of Mumbai.

Following a complaint, the police registered a case on October 6, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, and launched an investigation.

Accused arrested from Nagpada

During the probe, the police used technical analysis and information received from confidential informers to trace the alleged gang involved in such thefts. The accused were subsequently arrested from Nagpada, Bandra and the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), the press release stated.

The arrested accused have been identified as Mohammed Ejaz Mohammed Isha Hajam, 39; Mohammed Shoaib Ahmed Sheikh, 51; Shah Alam Abdul Rashid Sheikh, 26; Ramzan Rafiq Khan, 26; and Azam Fakruddin Qureshi, 34.

The police said the stolen copper cable, measuring approximately 12 metres and valued at Rs 30,000, was recovered during the investigation. The press note also stated that cases involving similar offences have been registered against the accused at other police stations.

The operation was conducted under the guidance of senior police officers, including Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Manoj Kumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner of Police (South Region) Shailesh Balkawade, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ragsudha R. and Assistant Commissioner of Police Dnyaneshwar Wagh.

The investigation team included D.B. Marg Police Station's Senior Police Inspector Nitin Dalvi, Police Inspector (Crime) Prashant Patil, Assistant Police Inspectors Sumesha Pawar and Santosh Yevale, along with other police personnel.

All those detained have been released, Mumbai Police said, adding that further legal proceedings were underway.

“About 400 protesters were detained at Nana Chowk. Around 500 police personnel were deployed, and the process of registering FIRs is under way,” said Ragasudha R, Mumbai Police DCP (South Zone 2) said. 

The protesters included members of activist Tushar Gandhi-led organisation Hum Bharat Ke Log, supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and workers of the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA).

Police detained protesters at August Kranti Maidan in south Mumbai and near Hutatma Chowk, while additional security personnel were deployed at other locations to prevent demonstrations.

Protest at August Kranti Maidan

Hundreds of people, including members of Hum Bharat Ke Log and CPI(M) activists, gathered at August Kranti Maidan to express solidarity with the CJP's demonstration in Delhi.

According to a police official, protesters were detained for assembling at the venue without permission. The process of registering a first information report (FIR) against them was underway.

In a separate action, several VBA workers were detained while demonstrating near Hutatma Chowk in south Mumbai, reported the PTI.

Tushar Gandhi detained in Bandra

Earlier in the day, Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and head of Hum Bharat Ke Log, was picked up from Bandra and taken to the DN Nagar police station.

Gandhi had shared a poster on X urging citizens to assemble at August Kranti Maidan at 3.30 pm to support the CJP's protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

A large number of people gathered outside the police station following his detention. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also visited the police station.

Activist Feeroz Mithiborwala was detained from his residence and taken to the MIDC police station, officials said.

Protester alleges police action was brutal

One of the protesters, Rubaid Bhojani, alleged that the police had used excessive force while taking demonstrators into custody.

“We voted for the Prime Minister, but he betrayed us. We demand Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's resignation,” Bhojani said, according to the PTI.

The protests in Mumbai were organised in solidarity with the CJP's demonstration at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, which has raised concerns over the electoral process.

Security tightened at Shivaji Park

Mumbai Police deployed additional personnel, including women officers, at Shivaji Park in Dadar to prevent members of the CJP from staging a demonstration.

Security was also stepped up at other locations across the city as authorities sought to prevent unauthorised gatherings and maintain law and order.

Police said August Kranti Maidan was not a designated protest site under a Bombay High Court order. The absence of official permission for the proposed gathering was cited as a reason for the preventive action.

CJP protest raises concerns over voter rolls

The CJP called for a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The protest also focuses on concerns surrounding Form 6, which is used to apply for inclusion in the electoral roll.

(with PTI inputs) 

The detentions came amid action against people protesting or planning to participate in demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

August Kranti Maidan in south Mumbai was the proposed venue for the protest in support of the CJP's call.

Imran Khan was detained from the site, while Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Varun Sardesai and Kasturi Gandhi were also taken into custody.

The detentions took place amid restrictions and police action against those associated with the planned agitation.

Actor Imran Khan was among more than 400 people detained across Mumbai on Saturday during protests in solidarity with the CJP’s agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police detained demonstrators at August Kranti Maidan and other locations, citing the lack of permission for the gathering. Protesters were demanding the CEC’s resignation over alleged irregularities linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

— Mid Day (@mid_day) October 10, 2026

Protest linked to demands over electoral reforms

The protest was called in support of the Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms (CJP), which has been associated with the agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The broader protest movement has raised concerns over the electoral process and called for accountability and reforms to ensure free and fair elections.

Tushar Gandhi detained in Andheri

Mumbai Police on Saturday detained activist Tushar Gandhi and members of his organisation ahead of a proposed demonstration at August Kranti Maidan.

Tushar Gandhi was picked up from Bandra and taken to the DN Nagar police station, a police official said. Activist Feeroz Mithiborwala was also taken into custody from his residence and shifted to the MIDC police station.

The proposed gathering in Mumbai was scheduled for 3.30 pm, following a call by Gandhi's organisation, Hum Bharat Ke Log. Police said no official permission had been granted for the event.

Aaditya Thackeray reaches DN Nagar

Former Maharashtra Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA along with Sanjay Raut, Anil Parab and other party leaders on Saturday evening reached DN Nagar Police Station in Andheri west area of Mumbai following the detention of Tushar Gandhi.

Several Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress party workers also gathered in Andheri to protest against Tushar Gandhi's detention. 

Meanwhile, in a post on X, Aaditya Thackeray wrote, "The regime still doesn't have the guts to call this an Emergency", sharing a photo of Trinamool Congress leaders, including former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, detained in a police vehicle.

Rejecting his application on September 11,  a court in Mumbai had ruled that he will face trial in the case.

The accused, Mohammad Shariful Islam, was arrested two days after the January 16, 2025, incident at the actor's residence. He is currently in judicial custody.

On Thursday, Islam again told the court that he intends to plead guilty for all the charges.

Additional sessions judge GP Deshmukh, presiding over the matter, then directed the prison authorities to make a formal communication with the Bangladesh embassy and facilitate Fakir to get in touch with the embassy.

The accused has been charged under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for robbery accompanied by the use of a deadly weapon, causing grievous hurt, house trespass as well as relevant sections of Foreigners Act and Passport (Entry into India) Rules.

Khan was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by the intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra. The 54-year-old actor underwent an emergency surgery at the Lilavati Hospital and he was discharged five days later. Islam was arrested by the police two days after the alleged incident. 

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Fake inspector

The racket came to light after the Crime Intelligence Unit, acting on a tip-off, arrested the prime suspect in Jogeshwari (West). The accused ran an Instagram account offering to recover lost mobile phones, impersonating an “Inspector Sanjay” to extract money from victims. An inspection of his phones revealed he was illegally sourcing data from associates to locate devices and back up his claims. 

Police link

Further investigations identified nine individuals in the data-supply chain, resulting in five arrests across three states. Among those apprehended are two serving police constables who aided the illegal data flow. 

Massive breach

A preliminary probe shows the network illegally supplied around 50 CDRs, over 520 SDRs, live location data for more than 550 mobile numbers, and information on over 420 IMEI numbers. Officers have seized seven mobile phones linked to the operation.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

The police seized 2.497 kg of mephedrone, also known as MD, and 566 grams of cocaine, with the total value of the contraband estimated at Rs 3,57,91,200, according to a press note issued by the Crime Branch on October 9.

Accused arrested in Taloja drug case

Acting on a tip-off received on October 8 by Senior Police Inspector Sandeep Nigde of the Anti-Narcotics Cell, a team apprehended Ani Ikechukwu Darlington, 41, a Nigerian national residing at Ambika Building in Rohinjan village, Taloja.

The accused was arrested at 9.30 pm on October 8, police said.

Mephedrone and cocaine worth Rs 3.57 crore seized

According to the police press note, the team recovered 221 grams of mephedrone, valued at Rs 6.63 lakh, from the accused. A further 2,276 grams of mephedrone, worth Rs 68.28 lakh, and 566 grams of cocaine, valued at Rs 2.83 crore, were recovered from his residence.

Police also seized material allegedly used for purchasing and selling drugs.

Case registered under NDPS Act

A case has been registered at Taloja Police Station under Sections 8(c), 21(c) and 22(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The case has been registered under Crime No. 480/2026.

Police said the accused was previously booked in an NDPS case registered by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Mumbai, in 2019. He had spent seven years in jail in connection with that case and was released on bail in 2025, according to the press note.

Navi Mumbai Police intensify anti-drug crackdown

The Navi Mumbai Police said they have stepped up action against drug trafficking. In recent operations, two gangs have been booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), while one man and one woman have been booked under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act.

Over the past five years, the police commissionerate has registered 2,387 narcotics-related cases and arrested 3,200 accused. It has seized 1,078 kg of drugs valued at approximately Rs 150 crore, according to the press note.

The police have also set up a helpline, 8828112112, for citizens to share confidential information about drug-related activities.

Senior officers supervise anti-narcotics operation

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr Vishal Hire, with the Anti-Narcotics Cell team led by Senior Police Inspector Sandeep Nigde.

Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe, Joint Commissioner of Police Deepak Sakore, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Pramod Shewale and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sachin Gunjal have directed officers to continue action against drug trafficking as part of efforts to make Navi Mumbai drug-free.

The operation involved Assistant Police Inspectors Nilesh Dhumal, Tushar Mane and Ganesh Patil, along with other personnel from the Anti-Narcotics Cell.

According to a police press release, Sitabai Santosh Ingle (35) was detained under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (PIT-NDPS Act) to prevent her from allegedly continuing her involvement in the illegal drug trade.

MCOCA invoked against alleged drug syndicate

In a separate but related action, police invoked MCOCA against a gang allegedly involved in supplying mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant drug, across multiple locations in Maharashtra.

The gang was allegedly headed by Imran Hussain Khan (36), who police said had previously been involved in serious criminal cases, including attempted murder and assault.

MCOCA is a state law aimed at tackling organised crime. Its provisions allow authorities to take action against organised criminal activity when the legal requirements for invoking the legislation are met.

Seizure of mephedrone led to investigation

The alleged network came under scrutiny after police seized 344 grams of mephedrone, valued at nearly Rs 86 lakh, from a resident of Ulwe in Navi Mumbai in May, the press release said.

The seizure prompted further investigation into the alleged supply network and the people suspected of distributing the contraband across Navi Mumbai, Mumbai and Nashik.

Police subsequently invoked MCOCA against the alleged gang as part of efforts to crack down on organised drug distribution.

Woman detained under preventive detention law

Ingle was detained under the PIT-NDPS Act, which provides for preventive detention in cases involving illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

According to officials, the action was intended to prevent her alleged continued involvement in selling contraband.

Police step up action against drug trafficking

The invocation of MCOCA against the alleged gang marks a move to pursue suspected drug distribution networks under organised crime provisions rather than treating the case solely as an individual drug seizure.

The investigation concerns the alleged supply of mephedrone across several urban centres in Maharashtra. Further details about additional suspects, arrests or seizures were not immediately available in the police statement.

(With inputs from PTI)

The incident took place on October 2, when the accused allegedly lured the builder to a hotel in Nalasopara East on the pretext of purchasing a commercial shop at his construction site.

Accused allegedly lured builder with shop deal

According to police, the main accused, Rohit Subhash Jangid (27), and his accomplices contacted the builder to discuss the proposed purchase of the commercial premises. They allegedly asked him to meet them at a hotel to finalise the deal, reported PTI.

When the builder arrived at the location, the accused allegedly forced him into a black Hyundai Creta SUV. They then threatened him with a gun and demanded money and jewellery, police said.

Builder forced to hand over cash and gold

The accused allegedly held the builder at gunpoint and forced him to hand over Rs 10 lakh in cash and gold ornaments weighing more than 70 grams.

Following the incident, the builder approached the police and lodged a complaint, prompting an investigation into the alleged abduction and extortion, reported PTI.

Crime Detection Cell arrests two suspects

During the investigation, the Crime Detection Cell-3 in Virar apprehended Jangid and Vansh Shivkumar Gupta, alias Monu (21), on October 4, officials said, reported PTI.

The two were arrested in connection with the alleged crime, while further details about the other accomplices, if any, were not immediately available.

Cash and jewellery recovered

Police said they had recovered the entire amount of Rs 10 lakh and the gold jewellery from the two accused.

The arrests followed a probe launched after the builder reported the incident. Police have not provided further details about the motive behind the alleged crime or whether additional arrests are likely.

The accused are alleged to have used the promise of a commercial property deal to bring the builder to the meeting before abducting and threatening him. The investigation is continuing, police said.

(With inputs from PTI)

About the deceased

. Sanjay Kantu Yadav, a resident of Ananta Tower, Ulwe
. Originally from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
. Detained at 3.33 am on October 4 for stealing electrical wires from NMIA premises
. Booked under BNS Sections 303(2) and 3(5) at NMIA police station
. Worked temporary odd jobs at local shops
. Habitual offender with seven prior cases across Pune, Nashik, and other locations

Police custody
Yadav underwent a medical examination at Panvel Rural Hospital before his arrest and reported no health complaints then or during subsequent court appearances. The court initially remanded him in police custody until October 6, later extending it to October 8.

Lockupcollapse

A police officer, 
‘While Yadav was lodged in the NRI Coastal police station lock-up, a guard noticed him clenching his fists, with his hands and legs becoming abnormally bent. He was immediately taken to Meenatai Thackeray Hospital, Nerul, where he was admitted at 12.50 am. Despite treatment, he was declared dead at 1.36 am.’

OfficialSpeak 

Sandesh Naik, assistant commissioner of police 
‘We suspect that he may have suffered a sudden heart attack. However, the actual cause of death will be known only after the post-mortem. The autopsy is currently underway at JJ Hospital.’ 

Legal inquiry

As Yadav died while in police custody, the post-mortem and subsequent legal procedure will be crucial in establishing what led to his death.

The circumstances surrounding his sudden deterioration inside the lock-up are now being examined as part of the mandatory legal procedure. The final cause of death will be determined after the post-mortem examination and medical findings.

The raid was conducted at Coral Spa, located at Shop No 109 on the first floor of DGS Sheetal Regalia in Nancy Colony on Monday around 7.20 pm.

According to the police, the arrested accused, identified as Ankit Sanjaykumar Chaubey, allegedly worked with wanted accused Tushar Wadekar to facilitate the illegal activity at the spa. Police alleged that the women were made to engage in obscene acts and were allegedly encouraged to provide body-to-body massages to customers.

A case was registered against Chaubey and Wadekar on a complaint by police constable More under Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. The case has been registered as Crime No. 1395/2026.

Cash, phone and electronic equipment seized

Police seized Rs 21,000 in cash, comprising 42 notes of Rs 500, from the premises. A mobile phone, a payment machine and a notebook containing entries related to services and payments were also seized.

The police also seized a network video recorder, a white-coloured HEX ID unit and two routers.

Accused arrested, another wanted

Chaubey, 28, was arrested at 6.13 am on Tuesday, according to the police. Wadekar remains wanted in the case.

The operation was conducted under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police Shashikumar Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police Gajanan Shivling Rajmane, Assistant Commissioner of Police Jayraj Ranavare and senior officers of Dahisar police station.

The police team included Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh Shivaji Salunke, Woman Assistant Police Inspector Dipali Prabhakar Kharat, Assistant Police Sub-Inspector Sachin Vasant Shinde and other personnel.

Navi Mumbai Police bust prostitution racket at Belapur spa, rescue five women

In a similar incident that came to light recently, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Navi Mumbai Police's Crime Branch busted an alleged prostitution racket operating under the guise of a massage parlour and a spa in CBD Belapur, rescuing five women and arresting a 24-year-old spa manager.

The action was taken on the afternoon of September 24 following specific information about alleged prostitution activities at the premises.

According to the police, Senior Police Inspector Gajanan Kadam of AHTU received information that the female manager of the spa was allegedly soliciting customers and forcing women working as masseuses into prostitution.

After verifying the information, the police arranged for an independent witness and sent a decoy customer to the spa at around 4.02 pm the same day.

The undercover operation allegedly confirmed the information received by the police. After the decoy customer gave the pre-arranged signal, the police team raided the premises.

Five women were rescued from the spa. Police said the women had allegedly been kept there for prostitution under the guise of providing massage services.

The police arrested a 24-year-old spa manager during the raid.

According to the police, he allegedly accepted cash from the decoy customer after offering one of the women for prostitution.

The investigation also identified three other people who have been named as wanted accused in the case.

Police allege that the accused had conspired to recruit women under the pretext of offering employment as massage therapists and subsequently pushed them into prostitution for financial gain.

A case has been registered at CBD Belapur Police Station under Sections 143(3) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (PITA).

The accused was produced before a local court, which remanded her to police custody until September 28.

Police said further investigation is underway to trace the three wanted accused and establish the full extent of the alleged racket.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police (AHTU) Shaileshkumar Ainchwar, Senior Inspector Gajanan Kadam, Inspector Yogesh Deshmukh and other Crime Branch personnel.

The action was taken following directions from Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe, Joint Commissioner Deepak Sakore and Additional Commissioner (Crime) Pramod Shewale to take action against illegal activities.

The burglary took place between 2 am and 2.45 am on September 28 at the residence of 53-year-old Jalubha Sarpusing Jadeja in Prabhamesh Avenue, Datta Mandir Road.

According to police, an unidentified person allegedly climbed up using bamboo scaffolding constructed around the building and entered the house through a hall window. The accused allegedly entered the bedroom and stole a gold Rudraksha chain weighing 30 grams and valued at approximately Rs 3 lakh, along with Rs 6,500 in cash.

Following Jadeja's complaint, the Dindoshi Police registered a case under Sections 331(4) and 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

CCTV footage leads police to scrap collectors

During the investigation, police examined 50 to 60 CCTV recordings from the police station limits and private premises. The footage showed a suspected person collecting scrap after the theft.

Police subsequently questioned two scrap collectors in the Malad East area. During questioning, they identified the person seen in the footage as Bahrul Nurislam Tarafdar, 27, who lives in a slum near the 15 Number bus stop, close to Mira Road Court.

According to police, Tarafdar collects scrap in the Borivali, Kandivali and Malad areas.

Assistant Police Inspector Om Totawar, with the help of the Dindoshi Police crime detection team, went to the Mira Road area to trace Tarafdar. He was found and brought to Dindoshi Police Station for questioning.

Police said questioning established Tarafdar's involvement in the burglary. He was arrested on October 2.

Police recover entire stolen property

Police said they recovered 100 per cent of the stolen property from the accused.

The recovered property included the gold Rudraksha chain, described in the recovery as weighing three tola and valued at Rs 3 lakh, and Rs 6,500 in cash. The total value of the recovered property was Rs 3,06,500.

The operation was conducted under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police Shashikumar Meena, North Region; Deputy Commissioner of Police Gajanan Shivling Rajmane, North Region-3; and Assistant Commissioner of Police Vijay Bhise, Dindoshi Division.

The operation was led by Dindoshi Police Station Senior Inspector Mahendra Shinde, with Police Inspector Sharad Surye, Assistant Police Inspector Om Totawar and other members of the team.

The complaint was filed on Tuesday by forest guard Shivraj Balaji Ugale. While carrying out his daily duty, Ugale was approached by a tourist who complained that an individual had sold him a torn ticket for entry to the park.

Ugale subsequently approached the ticket counter to verify the ticket. Counter staff informed him that the ticket had not been issued from the counter. On checking nine tickets found with the alleged seller, identified as Aakash Ravindra Sardar, 31, Ugale found that the paper, printing and font did not completely match those of tickets issued at the official counter, according to police.

Sardar was handed over to the Kasturba Marg police, following which an FIR was registered based on Ugale's complaint. The case, registered as FIR No. 684/2026, has been filed under Sections 318(4), 336(3) and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Police trace alleged source of fake tickets

During the initial inquiry, Sardar allegedly gave evasive replies. However, during further questioning, he allegedly told the police that the fake tickets had been prepared by Ganesh Ishwar Thakur, who had given them to him for sale.

Police subsequently identified Thakur as a wanted accused in the case. They also received reliable information that Thakur had a machine and software for preparing the fake tickets. Police said efforts are on to arrest him soon.

The investigation is also underway to ascertain how many fake tickets the accused allegedly sold and the extent to which the government was defrauded.

The action was carried out under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police Shashikumar Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police, North Region-3, Gajanan Rajmane, and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Dahisar division, Jayraj Ranavare.

The operation was conducted by Senior Inspector Balasaheb Bankar, Inspector Yogesh Pawar, Crime Detection Team Assistant Police Inspector Sambhaji Thorat, investigating officer Sub-Inspector Sainath Bargaje and other police personnel.

The operation was carried out by the ANC's Worli Unit on October 6, following information about the alleged illegal sale of prescription drugs for recreational use, they said.

Acting on information from a police informant, the ANC team learnt that a man was allegedly storing and selling prescription tablets in Dr Zakir Hussain Nagar in Govandi.

Police verified the information before carrying out a raid at the suspect's residence. During the search, officers recovered thousands of psychotropic tablets, which are allegedly sold on the street as “buttons” for recreational drug use.

Nitrazepam and alprazolam seized

Police said the seizure included two types of prescription drugs in commercial quantities.

The ANC recovered 4,500 Nitrazepam (NITCOR-10) tablets, weighing 2.475 kg and valued at around Rs 1.98 crore.

It also seized 5,300 Alprazolam (PROCALM-1) tablets, weighing 689 grams and valued at around Rs 55.12 lakh.

The total seizure comprised 9,800 tablets, with the combined value estimated at around Rs 2.53 crore.

Case registered under NDPS Act

A case has been registered at Deonar Police Station under Section 8(c) read with Section 22(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Police said further investigation is underway to identify the source of the tablets and trace the wider network allegedly involved in their distribution.

Senior officers supervise operation

The operation was conducted under the supervision of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharati, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anil Kumbhare, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Krishnakant Upadhyay, Deputy Commissioner of Police (ANC) Pournima Chougule-Sringi and Assistant Commissioner of Police Sudhir Hirdekar.

The operation was led by Senior Police Inspector Santosh Salunkhe of the Worli Unit, along with Police Inspector Digambar Patil, Police Sub-Inspector Rohit Sali and detection staff.

The investigation is continuing to establish the source and intended distribution network of the seized tablets.

The order, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, will come into effect from 12.01 am on October 14 and remain in force until midnight on November 12, unless withdrawn earlier.

According to the order issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) and Executive Magistrate Akbar Pathan on October 6, the restrictions have been imposed as a preventive and proactive measure against possible sabotage and threats to VVIPs, the public and public property.

Flying activities restricted

The order prohibits flying activities involving drones, remote-controlled micro-light aircraft, para-gliders, para-motors, hand gliders and hot air balloons across the jurisdiction of the Brihanmumbai Police Commissionerate during the specified period.

However, aerial surveillance carried out by the Mumbai Police has been exempted from the restrictions. Flying activities will also be permitted if specific written permission is obtained from the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Brihanmumbai.

The order stated that terrorist and anti-national elements could potentially use such aerial devices to carry out attacks, target VVIPs, endanger the lives of members of the public, damage public property and cause disturbances to law and order.

Action for violations

Anyone found contravening the order will be punishable under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The police said the order was being issued ex-parte as it was not possible to individually serve notice to all concerned.

Copies of the order will be published through the press and displayed on notice boards at police stations, offices of divisional Assistant Commissioners of Police and zonal Deputy Commissioners of Police, as well as municipal ward offices, tehsil offices and ward offices.

The order was issued from the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Brihanmumbai, and was signed by DCP (Operations) Akbar Pathan in his capacity as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) and Executive Magistrate, Greater Mumbai.

The investigation has brought seven establishments across five areas under the scanner. The clinics are spread across Bhandup, Jogeshwari, Borivli, Dahisar, and Mankhurd. 

The seizure

During the operation, police seized medicines and medical equipment worth approximately Rs 2.20 lakh. The seized material included medicine bottles, syringes, antibiotic tablets, and other medical supplies. Some clinics were also allegedly found selling expired Ayurvedic and Unani medicines.

Fake treatments

According to the Crime Branch, the accused allegedly treated patients for various ailments, including sexually transmitted diseases (STD), using allopathic, Ayurvedic, and Unani medicines despite allegedly lacking the required qualifications or registration to practise medicine.

Police speak

A senior investigating officer said people posing as doctors often choose random names for their clinics, including religious-sounding ones, to gain the confidence of local residents. One of the examples is Vinayak Health Clinic in Bhandup, where the practitioner is Imran Abdul Khan. “While the difference between a clinic’s name and a practitioner’s name does not by itself establish wrongdoing, the motive is to gain the trust of locals,” said a police officer. 

Case filed

An FIR has been registered at Bhandup police station under Sections 33 and 36 of the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act, 1961. Crime Branch Unit 7, Ghatkopar, is investigating the case.

Accused and their clinics 

• Santosh Health Clinic, Bhandup: Operated by Sheikh Mohammad Anwar Mohammad Aslam and Mohammad Nabi Hussain Mohammad Farid Sheikh
• Vinayak Health Clinic, Bhandup: Operated by Imran Abdul Jabbar Khan
• Hamdam Dawakhana, Jogeshwari: Operated by Dayashankar Hublal Singh and Junaid Hashmatullah Siddiqui
• Kohinoor Dawakhana, Jogeshwari: Operated by Shahabuddin Nizamuddin Sheikh
• Ankush Ayurvedic Dawakhana, Borivli: Operated by Naved Jahed Khan and Rashid Hussain Beg
• Deepak Herbal Health Care Clinic, Dahisar: Operated by Rashid Hussain Afzal Hussain Sheikh
• Samar Ayurvedic Dawakhana, Mankhurd: Operated by Nihal Arafat Hussain Sheikh.

The boy is out of danger, and police have ruled out the claim that he was injected with drugs following his medical examination.

According to the complaint registered at Ghatkopar police station, the incident took place around 7.30 pm on Monday near Municipal School No 3 in Bhatwadi. The boy was playing with his cousin when three to four schoolmates allegedly began hitting them with their hands. During the assault, one of the boys allegedly pricked the complainant on the back of his neck with a needle-like object before running away.

Police rule out drug injection claim

In his statement, the boy reportedly said that he experienced a sharp pain in his neck for some time. The other boys involved in the incident are yet to be identified, but police have confirmed that they went to the same school as the victim.

Following reports claiming that the child had been injected with drugs, police clarified that there was no evidence of drug injection. A medical examination was conducted, and no drugs were detected, police said.

The police have registered a case under Sections 115, 118(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further investigation is underway to identify the boys involved and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The application stems from the High Court's September 2 order directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register a first information report (FIR) and probe Disha Salian's death after her father raised suspicions about the circumstances surrounding it. The court had also directed the CBI to record Satish Salian's statement while observing that no person should be treated as an accused unless sufficient material emerges against them during the investigation.

Salian filed Interim Application No 20475 of 2026 on Tuesday in Criminal Writ Petition No 1612 of 2025.

The application argues that the observation, which was made in the context of the arrest of an accused, is allegedly being interpreted more broadly and has caused confusion and prejudice to the petitioner.

Salian has cited the Supreme Court’s judgment in Balkishan A Devidayal v State of Maharashtra (1980), which dealt with the meaning of “accused of an offence” under Article 20(3) of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court had held that a person against whom a formal accusation of commission of an offence has been made can fall within the expression “accused of an offence”.

Salian cites Supreme Court ruling in plea against HC ‘accused’ clause

Salian has, therefore, sought deletion of the clause or, alternatively, its clarification by the Bombay High Court.

The application is now before the High Court for consideration.

Disha Salian died on June 8, 2020, after falling from the 14th floor of a residential building in Mumbai’s Malad area. The Mumbai Police subsequently registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR).

Following an inquiry, the police concluded that Salian’s death was a case of suicide. Her father, however, approached the Bombay High Court in 2025, alleging that his daughter had been gang-raped and murdered.

Police said the accused was identified with the help of CCTV footage and information from informers and was arrested within 24 hours of the crime.

The accused has been identified as Salim Khan alias Salim Turkey, 46.

The burglary took place between 11.30 pm on October 2 and 11.50 am on October 3 at a clinic in Tantanpura Street on Nishanpada Road in Dongri.

According to the police, complainant visited his clinic at around 11.50 am on October 3 and found that the lock on the shutter had been broken.

After entering the premises, he found several articles scattered around. The drawer of his table had also been broken open.

A check revealed that Rs 1.60 lakh kept inside the drawer was missing.

CCTV footage helps identify suspect

Dongri police registered a case against an unidentified person under Sections 305, 331(3) and 331(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The Crime Detection Team, led by Assistant Police Inspector Dattatray Jadhav, began examining CCTV footage from the clinic and nearby areas.

Police also activated their network of informers. Based on the information received, investigators identified Khan as a suspect.

Accused traced

Police said Khan, who allegedly works by pushing handcarts, was traced to the Pila House area on VP Road.

He was detained and questioned by investigators. Police said his alleged involvement in the burglary came to light during interrogation.

Khan was subsequently arrested at around 7.15 am on October 4.

Police recover Rs 25,000

According to the police, Khan allegedly disclosed during questioning that he had committed the burglary with an accomplice identified only as Chiman.

Police have launched a search for the alleged accomplice.

Investigators have recovered Rs 25,000 of the stolen cash from Khan, while efforts are continuing to recover the remaining amount.

Accused has previous criminal cases

Police said Khan allegedly has a criminal record involving several cases of theft and house-breaking registered at Oshiwara, Nagpada, Santacruz, DB Marg and VP Road police stations.

His previous cases allegedly include offences under sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to theft and house-breaking, as well as a case registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

According to the police, officials from LT Marg Police Station in South Mumbai busted the cyber fraud racket and arrested two men in connection with the matter.

Police said the accused allegedly used money obtained through credit card phishing fraud to purchase expensive smartphones through various online platforms.

Victim duped through phishing link

The investigation began after a complaint was registered at LT Marg Police Station under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

According to the police, the victim was contacted by an unidentified person posing as an RBL credit card representative.

The caller allegedly told the victim that they would help deactivate an active Mail Order (MO) service on the credit card. The accused then sent a phishing link to the victim through WhatsApp.

After the victim opened the link, three unauthorised transactions totalling around Rs 4.48 lakh were allegedly carried out through the an e-commerce platform.

Technical investigation leads police to two suspects

Following the complaint, the police conducted a technical investigation to trace those allegedly involved in the fraud.

The investigation led officers to Kurla in Mumbai and Ahmedabad in Gujarat, where two alleged members of the syndicate were arrested.

The accused have been identified as Anisbeg Mirza, 23 and Moin Shaikh, 34.

Police said two Apple smartphones directly linked to the reported case were recovered during the operation.

The officers also seized 23 other mobile phones allegedly connected with different cyber crime cases. The recovered devices include smartphones manufactured by top companies.

This took the total number of mobile phones seized to 25, with an estimated value of more than Rs 19.66 lakh.

Police probe wider cyber crime links

The recovery of additional smartphones has led police to examine their possible links with other cyber fraud cases.

Investigators are now conducting further inquiries to establish how the devices were obtained and whether the arrested suspects were involved in other fraudulent transactions.

Senior officers supervise operation

The operation was carried out under the supervision of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharati, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Manoj Kumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner of Police (South Region) Shailesh Balkawade, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Ragasudha R and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Pydhonie Division) Renuka Buwa.

The field operation was led by Senior Police Inspector Vijay Dandvate and Police Inspector Sanjay Deshmukh.

The Cyber Detection Cell team included Sub-Inspectors Digvijay Metkari, Satish Bade and Amol Gogawale, along with police constables and other detectives.

Police said further investigation is under way to identify other possible members of the suspected cyber fraud network.

The accused has been identified as Dnyaneshwar Parade,31, a Police Sub-Inspector at Borivali police station in Mumbai.

Rs 1.5 lakh bribe demanded

According to the ACB, the complainant was facing a criminal case and alleged that Parade demanded Rs 1.5 lakh to ensure that he and his two sisters were not arrested and to facilitate their cooperation during the investigation. Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the Mumbai unit of the ACB and submitted a written complaint on September 29, 2026.

The ACB conducted a verification of the complaint on September 30.

During the verification, Parade allegedly repeated his demand for Rs 1.5 lakh. Following negotiations, the amount was reduced to Rs 1.3 lakh, which he allegedly agreed to accept.

Police officer caught red-handed

Officials said that the ACB subsequently laid a trap on October 5. During the operation, the police sub-inspector was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting the Rs 1.3 lakh bribe from the complainant.

Parade was taken into custody from Borivali police station at 5.42 pm on October 5, according to the ACB.

The ACB conducted a personal search of the accused following his detention and seized a mobile phone.

A search of his residence was also conducted, according to the ACB.

The ACB said that action to register a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act was in progress.

ACB appeals to citizens

The Anti-Corruption Bureau has appealed to citizens to report any demand for bribes by public servants.

"Citizens can contact the Mumbai ACB on 022-24921212, WhatsApp at 8828241064, or the ACB helpline at 1064," officials said.

The accused have been identified as Bharat Rajaram Kadam (56), an Inspector-in-Charge (Class III) at the Grocery Markets & Shops Board office at APMC Market, Turbhe, and Vijay Narayan Pawar (38), a private security guard posted at the same office.

Rs 55,000 bribe allegedly demanded

According to the ACB, the 35-year-old complainant works as an auto-rickshaw driver. An acquaintance of his had recently resigned as a registered Mathadi labourer with the board.

The complainant subsequently applied on August 29 seeking appointment in his place. However, when he approached the office to get the registration receipt signed and approved in the name of the board's secretary, Pawar allegedly demanded Rs 5,000 for himself and Rs 50,000 on behalf of Kadam.

The total bribe demand was therefore Rs 55,000.

ACB verifies demand and lays trap

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the Navi Mumbai ACB on October 5. Officials verified the alleged demand on the same day.

During the verification, the accused allegedly negotiated and reduced the demanded amount to Rs 43,000.

The ACB subsequently laid a trap at the duo's office on the sixth floor of the Central Facility Building at the APMC Fruit Market in Turbhe.

Duo caught red-handed

At around 6.47 pm, the ACB team caught Kadam and Pawar red-handed while they were allegedly accepting the Rs 43,000 cash from the complainant inside the office cabin.

The trap was conducted in the presence of independent witnesses, the ACB said.

An offence is being registered against the two accused at APMC police station under Sections 7 and 7(A) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

ACB urges citizens not to pay bribes

Dharmraj Sonke, Deputy Superintendent of Police, ACB Navi Mumbai, appealed to citizens not to pay bribes to public servants.

"We appeal to citizens not to pay bribes to any public servant. If any government official or public servant demands money to carry out official work, citizens must immediately approach and register a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau," Sonke said.

The investigation began after a 72-year-old Mumbai man was allegedly cheated of Rs 5.62 lakh through a fake senior citizen card verification process.

According to the police, the victim received a call on August 13 from a person claiming to be a senior manager of the Bank of India.

The caller allegedly told the senior citizen that he could help him obtain a senior citizen card. After gaining the victim's confidence, the accused allegedly sent him a WhatsApp file named "Senior Citizen Card Verification.apk".

The victim was asked to enter his personal details and debit card information into the application. Soon after, Rs 5.62 lakh was allegedly siphoned off from his bank account.

A case was registered at Byculla police station under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.

The investigation was later transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch.

Technical probe traces APK to Madhya Pradesh

During the investigation, Crime Branch officers carried out a technical analysis of the malicious APK file.
The probe allegedly led them to the 36-year-old software developer in Madhya Pradesh.

Crime Branch officials subsequently raided his office and seized a pen drive, CPU, three hard disks, a Wi-Fi router and three mobile phones.

Preliminary analysis of the seized material showed that the accused was allegedly using servers obtained from different service providers and companies, police said.

2,805 malicious APK files allegedly developed

According to the Crime Branch, the investigation revealed that the accused had allegedly developed and sold 2,805 malicious APK files to different cybercrime gangs.

Police said the applications were allegedly used to target 9,673 people across India, with the fraud amount estimated at around Rs 15.77 crore.

The APK files were allegedly designed to deceive victims into sharing sensitive personal and banking information, which could then be used by cybercrime networks to carry out financial fraud.

Complaints from 1,074 victims registered

Police said complaints from 1,074 victims across India were registered through the national cybercrime helpline 1930.
Of these, 143 complaints were from Maharashtra and 36 from Mumbai, according to the Crime Branch.

The investigation has so far resulted in the detection of 88 cases across India, including eight cases in Maharashtra and five in Mumbai, officials said.

Probe into cybercrime gangs underway

The Crime Branch is now investigating the cybercrime gangs that allegedly purchased and used the malicious APK files.
Investigators are also examining the accused's digital and financial links to identify other people involved in the alleged network and determine the full extent of the fraud.

Police are continuing to analyse the seized electronic devices and server-related information as part of the investigation.

The investigation began after a commuter reported that his smartphone had been stolen while he was travelling on a crowded bus between Cumballa Hill and Pedder Road.

Police said the investigation eventually led them to Mankhurd and Shivaji Nagar in Mumbai and to Rajasthan, where the alleged mastermind was arrested.

Commuter allegedly targeted on crowded bus

According to police, the accused allegedly created a commotion and deliberately jostled the complainant inside the crowded bus before stealing his mobile phone.

Gamdevi police registered a case in the matter and began investigations.

Police said they used technical surveillance, mobile location tracking and information from confidential sources during the investigation.

The probe allegedly revealed that the accused were part of a wider network targeting commuters on public transport routes across Mumbai.

Police teams subsequently conducted operations in Mankhurd and Shivaji Nagar, where six alleged members were arrested.

A separate team travelled to Rajasthan and arrested the alleged main accused.

Seven people arrested

The arrested accused have been identified as Aftab Abad Ansari, 26, Hasan Abbas Shaikh, 35, Chand Mohammad Mohammad Sultan, 53, Imtiyaz Imamali Shaikh, 46, Azam Akram Qureshi, 32, Swapnil Shankar Sonawane, 29 and Rajab Ali Mohammad Taqi Shaikh alias Chikna, 32.

During the operation, police recovered the complainant's stolen phone along with 41 other mobile handsets allegedly stolen from commuters on different public transport routes in Mumbai.

The recovered phones are valued at around Rs 16 lakh, according to police.

Investigators are now working to identify the owners of the recovered devices and return them to their rightful owners where possible.

Senior officers supervise investigation

The operation was carried out under the supervision of senior Mumbai Police officers, including Commissioner Deven Bharati, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Manoj Kumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner of Police (South Region) Shailesh Balkawade, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Ragasudha R and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Gamdevi Division) Suman Chavan.

The field operation was led by Senior Police Inspector Prashant Mohite, Police Inspector (Crime) Rajiv Patil, Assistant Police Inspectors Pratap Desai and Amit Devkar, and Police Sub-Inspector Yuvraj Jagtap, along with other personnel from Gamdevi Police Station.

Further investigation is underway, officials said.

The accused, identified as Khwaja Sheikh, was wanted in connection with a case registered at Pydhonie Police Station under sections 454, 380, 342, 411 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 

Accused allegedly absconding since 2014

According to the police, Sheikh had been absconding for around 12 years. Investigators said they initially faced difficulty tracing him as he was living in a densely populated slum area and there was little information available about him apart from his name.

The police team continued to work on the case and gathered information through confidential sources.

Police trace accused to Trombay

Following further investigation and information received from confidential sources, the Pydhonie Police team traced the suspect to Trombay in Mumbai.

The police subsequently arrested him in connection with the 2014 case.

Senior officers supervised operation

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Manojkumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner of Police Shailesh Balkawade, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ragsudha R, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Renuka Buwa.

The team was led by Pydhonie Senior Police Inspector Laxmikant Salunkhe, with Police Sub-Inspectors R Patil and Tushar Ikke, Assistant Sub-Inspectors Shendge and Rane, and Police Head Constable Kanade.

Police said the arrest was made following sustained efforts to trace the accused, who had remained untraced for several years.