Mumbai Crime Branch secures conviction in 2018 kidnapping and extortion case involving 13-year-old boy

The Mumbai Crime Branch team had arrested five suspects on August 6, 2018, and rescued the boy safely. Representational Pic/File

Mumbai Crime Branch has secured the conviction of accused persons in a 2018 kidnapping and extortion case involving a 13-year-old boy who was abducted while returning home alone, police said.

The court pronounced its judgment on October 30, 2026, sentencing the accused to imprisonment under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and imposing a total fine of Rs 3,500.

13-year-old boy kidnapped while returning home

According to the police, the incident took place on August 3, 2018, when the 13-year-old boy was allegedly abducted by unidentified persons while returning home alone.

Following the incident, a kidnapping case was registered at Vinoba Bhave Nagar Police Station in Kurla under Section 363 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Considering the sensitive nature of the case, the investigation was subsequently transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch's Detection Unit 4.

Five suspects arrested, boy rescued safely

Acting swiftly, the Crime Branch team arrested five suspects on August 6, 2018, and rescued the boy safely.

Following a detailed investigation and collection of evidence, the police filed a chargesheet before the court under Sections 363, 364(A), 328, 365, 324, 343, 506 and 120(B), read with Section 34 of the IPC. Section 37(1) of the Maharashtra Police Act was also invoked, said the police.

Court sentences accused under multiple IPC sections

The court delivered its verdict on October 30, 2026, and sentenced the accused to imprisonment ranging from one to three years under Sections 328, 363, 324 and 343 of the IPC, police said.

The successful investigation and prosecution were carried out under the guidance of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anil Kumbhare, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Krishnakant Upadhyay, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Raj Tilak Roushan and Assistant Commissioner of Police Sadanand Rane, an official said.

The team involved Senior Police Inspector Nitin Kumbhar, Assistant Police Inspector Ajay Birajdar and Court Constable Surekha Patil, the official added.

Mumbai court convicts two in 2019 kidnapping and robbery case

In a separate case, earlier this year, a sessions court in Mumbai had in February convicted two men in a 2019 kidnapping and robbery case registered at Borivali Police Station. The court, while passing the order, held them guilty under provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

The case was registered under Sections 394 (robbery), 363 (kidnapping), 364A (kidnapping for ransom), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC, along with Sections 3(1)(ii), 3(2), 3(4), and 3(5) of MCOCA.

After completion of the final hearing, the court held that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.