Mumbai Police on Monday said that it has busted an inter-state gang of mobile-phone snatchers active around the venue of Sunburn 2025 and recovered phone worth Rs 19.94 lakh from five suspects. The Sunburn Music Festival 2025 was being held in Mumbai last week at Sewri near Atal Setu bridge. Sunburn has reportedly come to Mumbai after 18 years, and while World's No 1 Hard DJ Sara Landry was the headliner for the first day, Grammy-Award winning artist and the World’s No 1 DJ David Guetta also performed on the second day. According to the police, considering the large crowds and risks of pickpocketing, mobile theft and women’s safety issues, Mumbai Police had deployed special teams in the area. On December 20, 2025, two complaints were registered at Sewri Police Station regarding mobile phones being forcibly stolen during the festival. Following this, two special police teams were formed to investigate the cases on priority. Karnataka native caught with stolen phones The police said that during a patrol duty, the Crime Detection Team of the police noticed a suspicious man trying to flee. He was detained for interrogations and during his searches, in presence of witnesses, police recovered four mobile phones worth around Rs 2 lakh from him. The suspect was later placed under arrest and identified as Udanappa Das Bhavi (26), a resident of Shivamogga in Karnataka. Four Delhi natives also held, 15 phones seized Meanwhile, the special team, in another operation near K-Shed, Indira Nagar area in Sewri, intercepted a suspicious white vehicle bearing registration number of Uttar Pradesh. Four men were found inside the vehicle. A search revealed 15 stolen mobile phones of various brands. Investigations revealed that the they were travelling in was allegedly being used for committing the crime. The accused were identified as Shahbaz Bhole Khan alias Shalib (28), Mohitkumar Ramkumar Patel (26), Nikhil Eknath Yadav (19) and Maheshkumar Suneshwarlal Kumbhar (20). All four were arrested. "In total, five accused from an inter-state gang have been arrested, and stolen property worth Rs 19.94 lakh has been recovered. Further investigation is ongoing under the guidance of senior police officers," said a police official.
22 December,2025 11:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA uniformed police official was arrested on Monday evening for allegedly molesting a differently-abled young woman at a public garden in Mumbai’s Tardeo area, an incident that has triggered widespread outrage. The alleged incident took place at a municipal garden near Mumbai Central railway station, a location commonly visited by families and children. According to the police, members of the public noticed the policeman sitting with the woman and allegedly behaving inappropriately. When the situation escalated, the woman raised an alarm, prompting citizens present at the garden to intervene. The official was detained by members of the public and later handed over to the police. Cop was allegedly under the influence of alcohol Police sources said the accused official was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. He was taken into custody by the Tardeo police and formally arrested after a preliminary enquiry. official was not on duty, probe underway Senior police officials stated that the accused is attached to the armed police wing and was not on active duty when the incident occurred. A case has been registered under relevant sections of law, and officials said strict departmental and legal action would follow. The accused will be produced before a court as part of the legal process, said an official. Support provided to the victim Police said that the woman is a differently-abled individual and that necessary support and assistance are being provided to her. The officials have assured that the matter is being investigated thoroughly. Senior officials stated that misconduct by personnel will not be tolerated. Further investigation is ongoing.
22 December,2025 11:06 PM IST | Mumbai | Anish PatilA 20-year-old woman who had earlier alerted her family about domestic abuse died following a late-night altercation with her husband at their Govandi residence. The Shivaji Nagar police have arrested the husband on charges of murder. The deceased, Nazia Parveen, had married boyfriend Manjar Imam Hussain in October 2023. The couple, who are maternal relatives, married with the consent of both families but without family members present at the wedding. According to Nazia’s uncle, Samatulla Sheikh, the young woman had frequently complained to relatives about quarrels with her husband over domestic issues. She had allegedly also told family that her husband was speaking to other women and had assaulted her during arguments when she confronted him about it. In one such incident reportedly around three months ago, she claimed to have lost a tooth after being beaten. Relatives had counselled the couple to resolve their differences instead of approaching the police. On December 19, Nazia last spoke to her younger sister around 8 pm, saying she was preparing dinner. After midnight, on Saturday early hours, a fight broke out between the couple between 1 am and 1.30 am. A post-mortem examination conducted at Rajawadi Hospital revealed that the woman had sustained head injuries. Based on these findings, police said that she was killed after her head was slammed against a wall during the altercation by her husband. Nazia was found dead in the morning by the neighbours, who informed the police. The husband, Manjar was arrested on Sunday evening.
22 December,2025 09:56 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerA 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by three men in Malwani area of Mumbai of which two have been arrested by the police, officials said on Monday, adding that a manhunt has been launched by to nab the third suspect in the case. According to preliminary information, the incident took place about a week ago, but an FIR was registered only two days ago. Police sources said that the 17-year-old victim and the accused are residents of the same area. The accused work in fabrication unit and resided in the workshop. Police said that the victim was friends with one of the accused and would secretly meet him on several occasions. On the day of the incident, when the victim went to meet the accused, two other men were also present at the spot. All three allegedly took turns to sexually assault her. The victim initially did not disclose the incident to anyone. However, the matter came to light after the brother of the victim learned about it through a person and questioned the victim, following which she revealed the truth, sources said. They said that the victim was then taken to the police station, where a complaint was lodged two days ago under the relevant sections of gang-rape and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act. Acting on the complaint, the police arrested two of the accused, while the third accused is absconding and is being searched for, said an officer from Malwani police station. The ages of both the arrested and absconding accused are reported to be between 21 and 23 years, said an official. Further investigation is underway, he said.
22 December,2025 09:01 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanA court in Navi Mumbai has sentenced a 44-year-old security guard to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for posing as a police officer and raping a woman in 2016, reported news agency PTI. Additional Sessions Judge Parag A Sane of Belapur court convicted the accused, Sagar Baburao Dhulap, of charges under sections 376 (rape), 170 (personating a public servant), and 384 (extortion) of the Indian Penal Code, reported PTI. The court sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for rape, two years for impersonating a police officer and three years for extortion. It also imposed a fine of Rs 1,500 and directed that the sentences are to run concurrently. A copy of the judgment, delivered on December 15, was made available on Monday. According to the prosecution, on February 13, 2016, the survivor and her friend visited a lodge in Kurla in neighbouring Mumbai, where the accused intercepted them posing as a police officer, reported PTI. Dhulap threatened to inform the parents of the survivor, who was 22 years old at the time, and demanded Rs 30,000 from her. The accused forcibly took her to a lodge in Turbhe, where he raped her, reported PTI. Judge Sane dismissed the defence's argument that the woman's failure to shout for help in public places suggested a consensual relationship. "Considering the age of the victim coupled with the entire case of the prosecution, I am of the view that only this factor will not be sufficient to discard the entire case... As the accused stated that he is a policeman. Hence, she did not shout," the court noted, reported PTI. Thane court sentences three people to 3 years RI for kidnapping baby In another case, a court in Maharashtra's Thane has sentenced three people to three years of rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping a five-month-old baby in the city, reported PTI. Additional sessions judge Suryakant S Shinde found the accused, including two women, guilty of charges under section 137(1)(b) (kidnapping) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for the crime that took place in October last year, reported PTI. A copy of the order dated December 15 was made available on Saturday. As per the case details, the infant's mother, Vanita Rakesh Pawar, a scrap collector, reported that he was abducted while the family was sleeping under the Rabodi flyover bridge on October 12, 2024, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
22 December,2025 01:50 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe police have arrested a 28-year-old man for allegedly stabbing a labourer to death in Maharashtra's Palghar district within 24 hours of the crime, an official said on Monday, reported news agency PTI. The Vasai crime branch nabbed the accused, Kushnu Ramrai Hembram, a native of Jharkhand, in connection with the fatal attack that occurred on December 18, said senior inspector Aviraj Kurhade of the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police, reported PTI. "An unidentified man was found with multiple stab wounds in the bushes near an industrial estate in Gauraipada, Vasai East, and he succumbed to his injuries. A murder case was registered at Waliv police station, and the victim was later identified as Tata Kirsun Hembram (30), a labourer residing in Golani, Vasai East," he said, reported PTI. Preliminary inquiry revealed that the deceased was last seen with a person from his native village on the night of December 17, he said. Acting on this lead, the police team traced and detained the suspect from Chinchpada, Vasai East, the official said. "During interrogation, the suspect, Hembram, admitted to having repeatedly stabbed the victim on the face, shoulder and neck with a sickle due to a long-standing family dispute," he said, reported PTI. Nepali man held for murdering brother in Vasai In another case, a man hailing from Nepal was arrested in Vasai in Palghar district for allegedly murdering his brother, a senior police official said on Saturday, reported PTI. Suraj Mohan Bahadur Nepali (30) assaulted his brother Yogesh Mohan Bahadur Nepali (35) on Thursday after a minor dispute, leading to the latter's death, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Madan Ballal said, reported PTI. "The two hail from Bhanumati district in Nepal and were living in Sativali in Vasai East. Both worked at a local hotel. We arrested Suraj Mohan within two hours of the crime while he was planning to flee to Nepal. A murder case has been registered at Pelhar police station and further probe is underway," the ACP said, reported PTI. Grocer held for murdering customer Meanwhile, the Thane Rural Police have identified a man, whose decomposed body was found in a water stream at Kalamgaon in Shahapur taluka, and solved a murder case within days by arresting a grocer, officials said on Saturday, reported PTI. The investigation revealed that the accused, identified as Vitthal Ratan Pardhi, assaulted Balu Vir (42) with a weapon on December 7 and dumped his body into the water stream, police stated in an official release, reported PTI. The murder was a fallout of a quarrel after Pardhi refused to lend groceries to Vir.Police registered a case for murder and destruction of evidence. (With inputs from PTI)
22 December,2025 01:43 PM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentA 68-year-old man was allegedly cheated of Rs 23.5 lakh by cyber fraudsters who threatened him with digital arrest in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Monday, reported news agency PTI. This is a second such incident reported in the district this week, an official said. Based on a complaint, the Kalyan police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, Assistant Inspector Vinod Patil of Mahatma Phule police station said. "The complainant alleged that two unidentified persons cheated him of Rs 23.5 lakh by threatening to place him under digital arrest and forced him to transfer money through online transactions between December 8 and 12," Patil said, reported PTI. 'Digital arrest' is a growing form of cybercrime in which fraudsters pose as law enforcement officials or personnel of government agencies and intimidate victims through audio/video calls. They hold the victims hostage and put pressure on them to pay money. He said that the accused allegedly contacted the victim on WhatsApp video calls and claimed that his bank transactions were suspicious and linked to alleged irregularities. "The fraudsters told him that he could be placed under digital arrest, but assured him that they would help him avoid legal action if he cooperated," the officer said, reported PTI. He said that the accused repeatedly threatened the senior citizen and put pressure on him to make multiple online money transfers amounting to Rs 23.5 lakh. The fraud came to light after the victim narrated the incident to acquaintances and approached the police on realising he had been duped. "We are analysing bank transaction details, call records and digital evidence to track down the accused," Patil said, reported PTI. GST fraud: Four booked for setting up fake firms, claiming Rs 22.06 crore ITC In another incident, a case has been registered against four persons in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly creating fake GST-registered firms and claiming input tax credit of more than Rs 22.06 crore, police said on Sunday, reported PTI. Based on a complaint lodged by an official from the State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) department, the police in Kalyan on Thursday registered a case against Nikhil Gaikwad, owner of Dynamic Enterprises, Noor Mohammad Vasim Pinjari, Navnath Sukrya Gharat, and an individual identified as Sarfaraj, and a few others, reported PTI. "Between April and August this year, the accused prepared false documents for a company by submitting this false information to the government and obtained a registration certificate under the GST Act," an official from the MFC police station said, reported PTI. The accused allegedly created eight fake companies and managed to claim Rs 22.06 crore in ITC, he said. The accused have been booked under sections 111 (organised crime), 316 (criminal breach of trust), 318 (cheating), and 320 (dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property), alongside relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, but no arrests have been made so far, the official said. (With inputs from PTI)
22 December,2025 12:32 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA case of alleged fraud has come to light at Dindoshi Police Station in Mumbai, where a gas dealer was reportedly cheated of Rs 1 crore by individuals impersonating senior officers of the Mumbai Police, including the Joint Commissioner of Police. According to police officials, the complainant, Rahul Gupta, a resident of Malad, was targeted by the fraudsters who allegedly used false identities to gain his trust and extract the money. Gupta was subsequently reported missing, triggering a police search operation. A shocking case has surfaced at Dindoshi Police Station, Mumbai, where a gas dealer was allegedly duped of ₹1 crore by fraudsters posing as senior Mumbai Police officials, including the Joint Commissioner of Police. The victim, Malad-based Rahul Gupta, was later traced safely… pic.twitter.com/umMiud5Y5k — IANS (@ians_india) December 22, 2025 He was later traced safely in Palghar district, officials confirmed. Dindoshi Police have registered a case against four unidentified persons under Sections 308(4), 308(5), 308(6), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further investigation into the incident is currently underway, police said. GST fraud: Four booked for setting up fake firms, claiming Rs 22.06 crore ITC In another incident, a case has been registered against four persons in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly creating fake GST-registered firms and claiming input tax credit of more than Rs 22.06 crore, police said on Sunday, reported PTI. Based on a complaint lodged by an official from the State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) department, the police in Kalyan on Thursday registered a case against Nikhil Gaikwad, owner of Dynamic Enterprises, Noor Mohammad Vasim Pinjari, Navnath Sukrya Gharat, and an individual identified as Sarfaraj, and a few others, reported PTI. "Between April and August this year, the accused prepared false documents for a company by submitting this false information to the government and obtained a registration certificate under the GST Act," an official from the MFC police station said, reported PTI. The accused allegedly created eight fake companies and managed to claim Rs 22.06 crore in ITC, he said. The accused have been booked under sections 111 (organised crime), 316 (criminal breach of trust), 318 (cheating), and 320 (dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property), alongside relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, but no arrests have been made so far, the official said. Meanwhile, a man was booked for allegedly posing as a personal assistant of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and husband of a DCP and duping a man of Rs 74 lakh, a police official said on Monday. The Santacruz police station official identified the accused as Vaibhav Paresh Thakkar, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
22 December,2025 10:55 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn a shocking incident on Thursday morning, an 18-year-old diploma student from Navi Mumbai was thrown off a running train by a 50-year-old man. The incident occurred at 7.55 am while the student was travelling from Panvel to her college in Kharghar in the ladies’ compartment. According to the victim’s father, “In a short while, the man threw her off the train for no reason. There was no argument or altercation.” GRP registers FIR; police probing further, say Navi Mumbai student’s parents The student is currently recovering from head and back injuries at home. The man has been apprehended by the Government Railway Police (GRP), and a first information report (FIR) has been registered against him, the student’s parents told mid-day.com.
21 December,2025 10:36 PM IST | Navi Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarThe Maharashtra Cyber on Friday said that it has registered an FIR in a case involving a deepfake video falsely linked to YouTuber Payal Dhare who goes by the name Payal Gaming. Payal Dhare is a popular social media content creator. She is known for her engaging gameplay videos and live streams on YouTube and has 4.5 million subscribers on the platform. According to the officials, Dhare has filed a complaint after a video circulated online, falsely claimed to feature her, caused severe mental trauma, reputational damage, and emotional distress to her. Preliminary forensic analysis confirmed that the video was generated using AI and in a probe it was found as a deepfake video. A case has been registered under sections 3(5), 79, 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), section 67 of the Information Technology (IT) Act and sections 3 and 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, an official statement said. Maharashtra Cyber takes action To protect the victim's reputation, Maharashtra Cyber has issued a certificate confirming the deepfake nature of the video. The certificate helps prevent further misuse or circulation of the fabricated content, the statement said. A detailed investigation is underway to trace the origin of the video, identify those responsible, and track anyone who circulated it for financial gain, harassment, or reputational harm. The probe includes advanced cyber forensics, digital trail analysis, and coordination with social media platform, it said. Payal's appeal In a post on social media on Wednesday, she appealed to the public and media to refrain from sharing, reproducing, or speculating about the deepfake video in any form. She added, “Appropriate legal action is being taken to address the misuse of my name and likeness and to ensure accountability under the law.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Payal Dhare (@payalgamingg)
19 December,2025 09:32 PM IST | Mumbai | Anish PatilThe Bombay High Court on Friday granted bail to former Maharashtra Minister Manikrao Kokate in a cheating and forgery case, suspending his two-year jail term but refusing to stay his conviction, reported the PTI. Justice R N Laddha stated that the court cannot stay the conviction, citing prima facie evidence of Kokate’s involvement. The case relates to Kokate allegedly securing a flat under a government scheme for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) by submitting false affidavits. The court noted that since Kokate had been on bail throughout the trial and appeal hearings, and the sentence was only two years, it was inclined to grant bail. Kokate was ordered to deposit Rs 1 lakh as surety, according to the PTI. Justice Laddha emphasised that allowing a convicted individual to hold a cabinet position based solely on a suspended sentence would prejudice public service, erode public confidence, and demoralise law-abiding citizens. Revision petition admitted Kokate’s revision petition against the Nashik sessions court order upholding his conviction has been admitted for hearing. The court highlighted that as an MLA and former cabinet minister, Kokate occupies a constitutional office with a fiduciary responsibility, requiring ethical governance and adherence to the rule of law. Background of the case The case relates to a 1989-1992 housing scheme for the EWS category, with an annual income limit of Rs 30,000. According to the Nashik sessions court, Kokate and his brother dishonestly induced the state government to allot flats by submitting false income affidavits. Evidence, including bank loans for grapes and rabi crops and records from the Kopargaon Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana sugar factory, showed Kokate had significant income at the time and did not qualify for the scheme. Health and resignation Kokate was admitted to Lilavati Hospital, Bandra, for an angiography and was scheduled for an SOS angioplasty, as per the PTI. "He has four severe blockages and we have advised him bypass surgery (process to reroute blood flow around blocked arteries). He underwent coronary angiography (X ray test to view blockages or narrowing in the heart's arteries) today," Dr Jalil Parkar and Dr Suresh Vijan said. "If Kokate does not want to undergo bypass surgery, angioplasty (procedure to widen narrowed or blocked blood vessels) can be done and treatment will continue. Kokate had two stents placed 15 years ago and these are in good condition," they added, the news agency reported. On Thursday night, he resigned from the Maharashtra cabinet following public pressure and calls for his ouster. He had been divested of his portfolios on Wednesday night. Party stresses supremacy of law Ajit Pawar said the resignation followed the court verdict and underlined that the rule of law is above individuals. “Kokate tendered his resignation to me, which has been accepted in principle, in keeping with the party’s long-standing belief that laws and rules are paramount,” Pawar said, according to the PTI. He added that public life must be guided by constitutional morality, institutional integrity and respect for the judiciary. The NCP president said that the party has full faith in the legal process and remains committed to maintaining law and order, while protecting democratic values and public trust. (with PTI inputs)
19 December,2025 06:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
