Railway STF arrests man at Mumbai's CSMT for robbing train passengers

The accused in police custody. Pic/By Special Arrangement

The Special Task Force (STF) of the Railway Police Commissionerate's Crime Branch has arrested a 38-year-old man on charges of theft.

According to the officials, the accused, identified as Vinay Rameshchandra Soni, a resident of Kanpur Dehat district in Uttar Pradesh, has been involved in robbing train passengers. He was arrested on January 17.

Gold and silver recovered

His arrest came following a complaint registered at the Kalyan Railway Police by a passenger. According to the complainant, the victim was returning from Prayagraj with his family on June 13, 2025, via the Patna Express train when their trolley bag got stolen. The bag contained valuables worth Rs 63,000, including a gold chain and silver ornaments.

Railway police got information about Soni's presence at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus on January 14. A trap was laid, and he was caught at the station at around 7 pm, said an official.

Following his detention, the police recovered 147 grams of gold and 55 grams of silver from his home in Kanpur.

Accused's Modus Operandi

. Purchasing tickets posing as traveler
. Targeting sleeping passengers
. Stealing handbags, purses
. Stealing gold jewelry and valuables

Recovered items
. Gold: 147 gm
. Silver: 55 gm
. Total value Rs 21,01,000