29 September,2026 12:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Thousands of devotees gathered in Mumbai for the immersion procession of Lalbaugcha Raja on Anant Chaturdashi. File pic
The massive crowds that gathered across Mumbai for Ganesh Visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi became a target for thieves, with gangs allegedly stealing mobile phones and gold jewellery from devotees. Police have arrested 18 accused, including two women and a minor, in connection with the thefts, police said.
More than 200 complaints concerning lost and stolen mobile phones were received at various police stations during the immersion festivities. Police registered cases involving 192 lost or stolen mobile phones, while 10 separate cases were filed over mobile phone and gold chain thefts.
Millions of devotees gathered at several locations, including Lalbaug, Parel and Girgaon Chowpatty, to participate in the Ganesh immersion celebrations.
According to police, pickpocketing gangs comprising local members as well as suspects from outside Maharashtra took advantage of the crowds during the immersion procession of Lalbaugcha Raja in central Mumbai.
Several devotees reported that their mobile phones had been taken from their pockets, while gold chains were allegedly snatched from their necks. Women's purses were also targeted during the crowded processions.
Preliminary investigations indicated the involvement of organised gangs, with women and minors allegedly being used in some of the thefts, police said.
Two women were reportedly caught with stolen belongings while allegedly attempting to steal purses from devotees during the immersion procession, also known as the Mirvanuk.
Following the rise in theft complaints, Mumbai Police deployed teams of plainclothes personnel along the immersion routes. Suspects were detained and questioned as part of the investigation.
Police have so far recovered 14 smartphones and seven gold chains from the accused. Officials are continuing efforts to identify and locate other alleged accomplices and recover additional stolen valuables.
The police are also examining CCTV footage from more than 100 cameras installed along key immersion routes in Lalbaug, Chinchpokli, Bharatmata Junction and Girgaon Chowpatty.
The footage is being analysed to identify other suspects and track their movements during the celebrations.
The Mumbai Police Cyber Cell and Technical Analysis Branch are assisting the investigation by using the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal to trace stolen mobile phones.
Police are using the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of the stolen devices to help track and recover them.
The investigation remains underway as police continue to search for other alleged members of the theft gangs and work to recover the remaining stolen mobile phones and valuables reported missing during the Ganesh Visarjan celebrations.
(With inputs from IANS)
