A special court in Thane district on Sunday acquitted nine persons booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for a 2017 attempted dacoity and firing, citing insufficient evidence against them, news agency PTI reported. Special Judge VG Mohite acquitted the accused of charges under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 395 (dacoity), and 397 (robbery with attempt to cause death) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with provisions of the MCOCA. A copy of the order dated February 17 (Tuesday) was made available on Sunday. According to the prosecution, on July 22, 2017, the accused intercepted a jeep carrying Rs 7 lakh in cash belonging to a wine shop in Bhiwandi and fired at the vehicle, injuring three employees, PTI reported. The driver managed to escape, preventing the theft. The court, however, found the evidence linking the accused to the crime insufficient. It noted minor discrepancies in witness testimonies and observed that the accused did not have the opportunity to snatch the cash bag from the injured persons. No money was reportedly stolen from the vehicle. While weapons and cash were recovered from one absconding accused, the judge ruled that this did not incriminate the others. The trial against the absconding accused, Raju Shetty, has been separated, PTI reported. Mumbai sessions court convicts two in 2019 kidnapping and robbery case under MCOCA A sessions court in Mumbai on Friday 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 verdict was delivered by the Court of Additional Sessions Judge SR Navandar after the completion of final arguments. 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. The convicted accused have been identified as Praveen Mahadev Helkar (30) and Suresh Omprakash (33). Under Section 394 read with 34 of the IPC, the court sentenced both to six years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each. The court also stated a condition where, in default of payment, they will undergo an additional six months’ imprisonment. (With PTI inputs)
22 February,2026 06:48 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA 46-year-old mechanical engineer in Maharashtra's Thane city has allegedly been duped of Rs 3.15 crore after being lured to invest in a fraudulent online trading platform, police said on Sunday, reported news agency PTI. The complainant, a resident of the Kasarvadavali area, alleged that a person had contacted him and promised high returns through investments on a website, reported PTI. Believing the representation to be true, the complainant invested Rs 3,15,67,954 between December 12, 2025 and February 11 this year, cyber police station sub-inspector Lahu Rathod said. "The complainant stated that he was initially shown a profit of USD 5 lakh on the platform, which built his confidence. However, when he attempted to withdraw or secure his invested amount, his account was blocked and he realised that he had been cheated," the official said, reported PTI. Based on his complaint, the police registered a case on Friday against three individuals under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 318(4) (cheating) and 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), and sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act for cheating, impersonation and online fraud, he said. A probe was underway into the case. Thane murder accused held from Palghar after year-long hunt In another case, the police have arrested a 24-year-old man from Palghar who had been absconding for more than a year in connection with a murder during a New Year party in Maharashtra's Thane district, officials said on Sunday, reported PTI. The incident occurred in the Kashimira area in the wee hours of January 1, 2025, when the victim and his friends gathered for the celebration at the house of one of them. While they were dancing to music being played on a sound system installed there, an argument broke out between one of them and a local man over the playing of a song, a police official said, reported PTI. The man later called his associates to the spot and they allegedly assaulted the victim and his friends with wooden sticks and other objects, the police said. In the attack, Raja Pariyar sustained grievous injuries and died, while two of his friends were seriously injured, the official said, reported PTI. Based on a complaint by one of the injured persons, the Kashimira police had registered a case on charges of murder and other offences against five absconding accused. Based on technical analysis and specific information, the police traced one of the accused, identified as Aadesh alias Chala Prakash Jadhav, to Wakipada at Naigaon in Vasai in neighbouring Palghar district and took him into custody on February 19, the police said, reported PTI. Search was underway for the other accused, the police said. (With inputs from PTI)
22 February,2026 02:40 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentPolice have arrested a 24-year-old man from Palghar who had been absconding for more than a year in connection with a murder during a New Year party in Maharashtra's Thane district, officials said on Sunday, reported news agency PTI. The incident occurred in the Kashimira area in the wee hours of January 1, 2025, when the victim and his friends gathered for the celebration at the house of one of them, reported PTI. While they were dancing to music being played on a sound system installed there, an argument broke out between one of them and a local man over the playing of a song, a police official said. The man later called his associates to the spot and they allegedly assaulted the victim and his friends with wooden sticks and other objects, the police said. In the attack, Raja Pariyar sustained grievous injuries and died, while two of his friends were seriously injured, the official said, reported PTI. Based on a complaint by one of the injured persons, the Kashimira police had registered a case on charges of murder and other offences against five absconding accused, reported PTI. Based on technical analysis and specific information, the police traced one of the accused, identified as Aadesh alias Chala Prakash Jadhav, to Wakipada at Naigaon in Vasai in neighbouring Palghar district and took him into custody on February 19, the police said, reported PTI. Search was underway for the other accused, the police said. Thane engineer loses Rs 3 crore in online trading fraud In another case, a 46-year-old mechanical engineer in Maharashtra's Thane city has allegedly been duped of Rs 3.15 crore after being lured to invest in a fraudulent online trading platform, police said on Sunday, reported PTI. The complainant, a resident of the Kasarvadavali area, alleged that a person had contacted him and promised high returns through investments on a website. Believing the representation to be true, the complainant invested Rs 3,15,67,954 between December 12, 2025 and February 11 this year, cyber police station sub-inspector Lahu Rathod said, reported PTI. "The complainant stated that he was initially shown a profit of USD 5 lakh on the platform, which built his confidence. However, when he attempted to withdraw or secure his invested amount, his account was blocked and he realised that he had been cheated," the official said, reported PTI. Based on his complaint, the police registered a case on Friday against three individuals under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 318(4) (cheating) and 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), and sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act for cheating, impersonation and online fraud, he said. A probe was underway into the case. (With inputs from PTI)
22 February,2026 02:31 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe officials said that the police have unearthed an egg-donation racket, suspected to be involving crores of rupees, that repeatedly exploited vulnerable women in Maharashtra's Thane district, reported news agency PTI. The victims were offered Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per cycle and repeatedly used as egg donors, resulting in physical exploitation. They were taken to IVF centres where the eggs were surgically extracted and sold for lakhs, they said, adding that so far, 20 women are believed to have fallen prey to the racket, reported PTI. Three arrested Three women have been arrested in connection with the illegal trade operating out of a residential apartment and a sonography centre at Joveli in Badlapur East, the police officials said on Saturday. Egg donation is a fertility procedure where a woman provides eggs for another person to conceive, usually via IVF (in vitro fertilisation). The donor undergoes screening and hormone treatment, eggs are retrieved, fertilised, and transferred to the recipient. The arrested persons have been identified as Sulakshana Gadekar (44), Ashwini Chabukswar (29), and Manjusha Wankhede (46), reported PTI. Following a tip-off from a victim to Thane Sub-District Hospital's Chief Medical Officer Dr Jyotsna Sawant, a raid was recently conducted at Gadekar's residence in Nano City building, the police said. "We recovered photos of injections used in connection with pregnancy, sonography reports, affidavits with false names, fake documents, and evidence of financial transactions on the mobile phones of the accused," a police official said, reported PTI. Accused targeted needy women The accused targeted needy women, paying them Rs 25,000 to 30,000 per cycle. The victims were allegedly administered hormonal injections to increase egg production and were repeatedly used as donors, leading to physical exploitation, the official said, reported PTI. "The process involved injecting the women to stimulate egg production and taking them for sonography. Once the eggs were ready, the victims were sent to IVF centres where the eggs were surgically extracted and sold for lakhs of rupees," the official added. Ulhasnagar Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Gore said that more than 20 women might have fallen victim to this racket so far, reported PTI. "The racket was previously operating in Vangani before shifting to Badlapur recently. We are investigating the involvement of IVF centres, doctors, and hospitals. High-profile names are likely to surface as the turnover of this illegal trade is estimated to be in crores," Gore said, reported PTI. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, the police added. (With inputs from PTI)
22 February,2026 02:20 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Police on Saturday opposed the anticipatory bail pleas filed by two executives of a construction firm in connection with the collapse of a parapet segment on an under-construction metro rail line in Mulund, reported the PTI. The incident took place on February 14, when a portion of a concrete parapet of Mumbai Metro Line 4 fell onto moving traffic, killing one person and seriously injuring three others. Following the accident, police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, mischief causing damage, and acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention. Alpesh Patel, managing partner, and Ganesh Gholap, technical director of Milan Road Buildtech LLP, approached a sessions court seeking pre-arrest bail, according to the PTI. In their plea, filed through advocate Suvarna Vast, the executives claimed they had no direct involvement in on-site fieldwork and were falsely implicated, the news agency reported. They argued that the site supervisor had instructed a welder not to touch the hooks of the unfinished precast parapet. According to them, the welder ignored these instructions, leading to the collapse, and later fled the scene. The firm stated that its project director and senior staff rushed to assist victims and fully cooperated with investigators, as per the PTI. Police cite safety responsibility In its written reply, Mumbai Police said the two executives were responsible for ensuring proper safety measures at the construction site. Police told the court that if granted bail, the applicants might not cooperate with the investigation. They also pointed out that although the duo were summoned on 16 February to appear with relevant documents, they failed to do so, suggesting they were evading the probe, reported the PTI. Investigators said that the custodial interrogation was necessary to examine possible safety lapses in the project. Alleged shortcut in construction Police further claimed that officials from Milan Road Buildtech and DB Hill-LBG installed parapets without carrying out essential concreting work. According to investigators, the accused were aware that bypassing standard procedures could cause heavy structures to collapse, yet they allegedly proceeded without informing safety authorities, the news agency reported. Describing the case as serious, police said the incident had triggered public anger and could create law and order concerns. Police also opposed the pre-arrest bail plea of project consultant T. Sai Suresh Kumar. Next hearing on February 25 The matter is scheduled to be heard next on February 25. The case has drawn attention to safety standards and accountability in large infrastructure projects across Mumbai, as per the PTI. (with PTI inputs)
21 February,2026 11:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRailway officials on Saturday said that it recovered drugs worth Rs 13.83 crore from an unclaimed bag in the Awadh Express at Bandra Terminus in Mumbai on Saturday and a probe has been launched into the matter. According to the officials, Train No. 19038 arrived at Platform No. 4 at around 4:20 am on February 21. During routine emergency maintenance checks, Constable Mukesh Mangawa noticed a black bag in the rear general (GS) coach at about 6 am. The bag appeared unusually heavy. With the help of a contractual lockman, the bag was brought to Platform No. 4/5 for inspection. Upon opening the bag, officials found clothes and several brown tape-wrapped packets containing black shiny material. Suspecting the substance to be contraband, senior railway protection officials were immediately informed, the officials said. Senior officers from the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) reached the spot shortly afterwards, they said. Dog squad confirms narcotics According to the officials, at around 7:15 am, a dog squad was called to examine the bag. A trained narcotics detection dog indicated the presence of drugs. A second dog squad team also verified that the contents were narcotic substances. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) railway team later arrived and conducted a detailed examination at the spot. 31 packets seized In the presence of CCTV surveillance, the bag was formally opened and checked. Officials seized 31 brown tape-wrapped packets containing black shiny material and two shirts and one pair of jeans, said the officials. "The total weight of the suspected charas was found to be 13.834 kilograms. The estimated market value of the seized narcotics is approximately Rs 13.83 crore," an official statement said. Each packet was labelled, sealed and handed over to the GRP for further investigation, it said. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act on 21 February 2026. The railway officials said that they have launched an investigation into the matter to identify the owner of the bag and trace the person involved in the transportation and intended destination of the seized drugs.
21 February,2026 10:50 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarA Kurla resident has been booked by Govandi police for allegedly duping a film-industry light technician of Rs 22 lakh by falsely claiming ownership of a BMC-allotted flat. Police said complainant Sajid Shaikh, 34, was searching for a rental home in Govandi in 2023 when he was introduced to the accused through a relative. The man allegedly claimed a room in Samarpan CHS had been allotted to him by BMC in 2012 and showed electricity bills and tax receipts to support the claim. Sajid and his wife moved in November 2023 after paying a Rs 22 lakh deposit for a 36-month agreement and lived there for seven months believing the tenancy was legal. On June 6, 2024, BMC officials with police visited and informed them the flat had never been allotted to the accused, forcing them to vacate immediately. “Our belongings and we were suddenly on the road. We already had EMIs to pay, no savings left, and nowhere to go,” Sajid said. When he sought a refund, the accused allegedly issued a Rs 23 lakh cheque that bounced, prompting him to approach police.
21 February,2026 10:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerA travel planner was booked for allegedly duping senior citizens of Rs 33 lakh after promising them a tour of Assam and Meghalaya, a police offcer said on Friday. Rahul Jain was booked on the complaint of construction businessman Shivshankar Agarwal, 61, who has claimed 60 people were duped, an officer from Vakola police station said. “Through a mutual contact, the victims, who are part of a club, got in touch with Jain, who introduced himself as a holiday planner. In July last year, a meeting was held at a hotel in Santacruz, where Jain presented a detailed itinerary and finalised a tour package costing Rs 75,000 per member. It was agreed that the payment would be made in three instalments,” the officer said. Jain collected Rs 33 lakh from 60 people , but in October told them the tour would have to be cancelled or postponed due to heavy rain, the officer said.“In November, Jain handed over cheques as part of the refund process. He then went unreachable, which made the tour party realise they had been cheated. The cheques also bounced. Jain has been booked for cheating and fraud,” he said. 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
21 February,2026 09:20 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesThe 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
21 February,2026 09:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram KavatturFour persons sustained severe burn injuries following a gas cylinder blast that triggered a fire at Dighe Chawl in the Vakola area of Santacruz East on Thursday evening. The incident was reported at 6.52 pm, prompting a swift response from the Mumbai Fire Brigade. According to officials, the fire broke out in a room at Dighe Chawl, located behind Rekha Medical near Vakola Bridge. The blaze was reportedly caused by a cylinder explosion inside the premises. A neighbour points to damage caused by cylinder blast in Dighe Chawl at Dhobi Ghat in Vakola on Friday; (right) The house of the Gawde family in Dighe Chawl where the cylinder blast occurred. Pics/Atul Kamble Firefighters from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) rushed to the spot and managed to extinguish the flames by 7.26 pm, preventing the fire from spreading to adjoining structures in the densely populated chawl. All four injured persons were initially taken to VN Desai Hospital in Santacruz for primary treatment. Based on the severity of their burns, three of them were later shifted to Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion Hospital) for further management, said officials. 7.26 pmTime the fire was doused One academic year lost The youngest victim, 15-year-old Yash Gowale, would have appeared for his SSC (Std X) exams had this unfortunate incident not occurred. “He was studying for his first paper, which was today [Friday]. But now his entire year will be wasted. Though everyone does get an opportunity to write the exam in October, still he will have to wait till next academic year. Though he has lesser burns, the impact on his life is larger,” said Swapna Powle, his cousin. Spot: Dighe Chawl, Vakola, Santacruz East Time: 6.52 pm Day: Thursday Victim details Sumati Gowale. Age: 70. Burns: 45-60%. Condition: Critical Avantika Gowale. Age: 45. Burns: 30-40%. Condition: Stable Yash Gowale . Age: 15. Burns: 10%. Condition: Stable Javed Shaikh. Age: 30. Burns: 33% . Condition: Stable with impact on stomach
21 February,2026 09:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarTwo childhood friends from Mumbai allegedly turned to chain-snatching after searching online for “easy ways to earn money,” police said, in a case where financial stress, poor judgment, and social media influence combined to turn a long friendship into a criminal partnership. The MHB Colony police cracked the case within 24 hours, arresting both accused and recovering the stolen chain and motorcycle used in the crime. The accused Jatin Ramesh Naik, 34, one of the two accused arrested; (right) Hardik Harshadbhai Naik, 25, the second accused held in the chain-snatching case Residence: Same locality in Goregaon East Police say neither had a prior criminal record. Case snapshot Police station: MHB Colony Accused: 2 childhood friends Crime solved in: 24 hours Recovered:Gold chain Motorcycle used in crime What happened Victim: 24-year-old domestic workerChain purchased in Oct 2025Weight: 6.9 grams. Hardik borrowed his cousin’s Hero Xpulse motorcycle.. Two men on a motorcycle intercepted her.. The pillion rider snatched the chain and pushed her when she resisted.. They fled towards Shivaji Nagar.. A local resident noted the bike number, helping police track the accused. The incident Date: February 13, 2026Time: Around 2.30 pmLocation: Shagun Hoteljunction, Dahisar West Police action The operation was carried out under the supervision of.... DCP (Zone XI) Sandeep Jadhav,. Senior Inspector Harish Gavli,. PSI Mangesh Kirpekar,. PSI Sandeep Gorde, along with the detection team of MHB Colony police station.An officer said financial pressure and poor judgment drove the crime.“They had no previous criminal history. Debt and bad decisions pushed them into the offence,” the officer said. Motive police claim . Investigators said both accused were under financial strain.. Jatin worked as a delivery executive with loan liabilities . Hardik was unemployed and in debt . Police say they searched online for quick-money options and allegedly came across chain-snatching videos How police cracked it . CCTV footage traced the bike. Registration led to suspects. Both arrested on Feb 14 Items recovered Chain (Worth about R96,720)Hero Xpulse motorcycle
21 February,2026 07:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanADVERTISEMENT
