03 June,2026 09:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The incident has raised concerns among residents regarding the effectiveness of security and monitoring systems in the area. Pic via special arrangement
One person was apprehended during a late-night operation targeting an alleged sand theft racket at Silver Beach in Madh in Malad West, Mumbai.
The action was launched after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mumbai General Secretary Vinod Shelar received complaints alleging that sand had been illegally excavated from the beach and transported in trucks and mini trucks for nearly two-and-a-half months.
Acting on the information, Shelar, along with BJP workers and three police personnel, set up a trap at the beach around 1 am to nab those allegedly involved in the illegal activity.
Around 2 am, seven to eight individuals reportedly arrived at the beach to collect sand. Police personnel and BJP workers, who were waiting at the site, attempted to apprehend them after they had filled several sacks with sand.
However, four of the suspects managed to flee in the opposite direction, while three others escaped into the sea. Due to poor visibility and darkness, only one of the accused was nabbed from the sea.
The man was then taken to Malvani Police Station.
One of the most alarming aspects of the incident, according to Shelar, was that CCTV cameras installed on the beach had allegedly been turned away from their original positions, preventing sand theft activities from being recorded.
He claimed this suggested the illegal operation was being carried out in a planned and organised manner.
Shelar questioned how repeated sand theft could continue for more than two months despite a police outpost being located just one to one-and-a-half kilometres away from the beach.
He said it was difficult to believe that neither the police nor other authorities were aware of the alleged activities.
The incident has raised concerns among residents regarding the effectiveness of security and monitoring systems in the area. Shelar demanded a thorough investigation and strict action against all those involved.
Shelar also alleged that Malad has witnessed a rise in illegal activities, including drug networks, unauthorised land filling, encroachments, small hotels allegedly facilitating prostitution in some areas, and now sand theft.
Claiming that Congress representatives have dominated local politics in the area for nearly four decades, Shelar alleged that such illegal activities have increased rather than decreased over the years.
