Police have arrested a man after seizing drugs valued at Rs 6.23 lakh from his possession in Maharashtra's Palghar district, officials said on Sunday, reported news agency PTI. Based on intelligence inputs, the police conducted a raid at Dhaniv Bagh in the Nalasopara area on December 4 and apprehended the man, reported PTI. During a search, they recovered brown sugar valued at Rs 6 lakh and Nitrazepam (a psychotropic drug) tablets costing Rs 23,628 from his possession, a police release said. The accused, identified as Salim Bagion alias Sardar Chacha (40), was arrested and booked under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the release said, reported PTI. The accused is a habitual offender. He has 12 previous cases registered against him, including three under the NDPS Act, the police said. Charas brought from J&K seized in Thane, one arrested In another case, a man was arrested on Saturday in Mumbra area here with charas valued at Rs 1.10 crore, police said, reported PTI. As per the preliminary investigation, accused Mohammad Haroon Hasrat Ali Siddiqui (42), a local resident, had procured the narcotic drug from Jammu & Kashmir, said a police official, reported PTI. Haroon was spotted standing suspiciously near Airoli-Mumbra Bridge by a police patrolling team. He tried to run but was nabbed after a short chase, and 2.2 kg of charas, a cannabis product, was seized from his possession, said senior inspector Anil Shinde of Mumbra police station, reported PTI. "The accused sold drugs in Thane area. A case has already been registered against him in Ajmer, Rajasthan. Investigation is being carried out about his connection with Jammu and Kashmir," the inspector said, reported PTI. Haroon was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and a court remanded him in police custody till December 8, PI Shinde said. Nigerian national held with Cocaine worth Rs 72 lakh in Mumbai Meanwhile, a 27-year-old man from Nigeria was arrested after cocaine worth Rs 72 lakh was seized from his possession in Mumbai, a police official said on Friday, reported PTI. The accused, Munachi Agwu alias Oliver Agwu, was found in possession of the highly addictive drug on Thursday night in suburban Malwani and subsequently placed under arrest, he said, reported PTI. According to the Malwani police station official, cops received a tip-off that a man was likely to come to a spot in the western suburb to deliver drug. A trap was laid and the man, later identified as Nigerian national Agwu, was caught with 180 gram of cocaine worth Rs 72 lakh, he stated, reported PTI. The accused was booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act) and further investigation was underway, the official added. (With inputs from PTI)
07 December,2025 04:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA Thane court has sentenced a man to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2021, which led to her pregnancy, observing that the crime was "heinous" and must be dealt with stringently, reported news agency pTI. Additional Sessions Judge-3, DS Deshmukh, in the judgment on Friday, said the act of the 34-year-old accused, who is married and also has a son, has to be viewed seriously and he is not entitled to leniency. The court convicted the accused, Sahid Mohammad Ramzan Hasmi, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act section 5 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) and also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him, reported PTI. A copy of the order was received on Sunday. Special Public Prosecutor Sanjay Londge told the court that the victim had lodged a complaint alleging that in May 2021, the accused, who resided in her neighbourhood in the Kashimira area here, sexually assaulted her after offering to drop her home and later calling her to his house, reported PTI. The accused also threatened to kill her if she informed anyone about the offence. The victim suffered severe stomach pain in July 2021, and a subsequent medical examination in August revealed she was pregnant. She initially informed about the incident to another man. Later, after her mother took her into confidence, she told her about the offence committed by the accused. After hearing both sides, the judge said the act done by the accused is "heinous". The prosecution has proved that the accused had committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault on the victim twice, due to which she became pregnant, and also threatened her, the Thane court observed, reported PTI. The judge rejected the defence's claim that the case was false due to a monetary dispute. In view of the oral evidence of the victim and her mother and also clear documentary evidence- the DNA report - on record, this defence taken by the accused is not acceptable, he said. "It is pertinent to note here that for such a lame reason, nobody can use his minor child to implicate the person in a false case by levelling such type of allegations," the Thane court noted, reported PTI. Regarding the severity of the crime and sentencing, the judge said, "The act of sexual assault on the child is to be viewed seriously and such offences are to be dealt with stringent manner." In this case, the accused, being a married person and having a small son, "committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault on the victim and impregnated her," the court said, reported PTI. "The act of the accused is heinous. It has to be viewed seriously. Considering the submissions of both sides and the nature of offence, the accused is not entitled for leniency," it said, reported PTI. The court also directed that the fine amount, if recovered, be given to the victim. The case has been recommended to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) for compensation to the victim. (With inputs from PTI)
07 December,2025 01:15 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentPolice have arrested a 20-year-old man from Maharashtra's Thane city for allegedly travelling on a fake railway pass generated through the UTS mobile ticketing app, officials said on Sunday, reported news agency PTI. The man was travelling on a Dadar-Ambernath fast AC local train on Friday when the travelling ticket inspector asked him to show his ticket. The accused showed a digital railway pass on his mobile phone's WhatsApp and it was later found to be fake, a Government Railway Police (GRP) official said, reported PTI. He was offloaded at Thane station and brought to the GRP police station for further inquiry. During questioning, the man claimed that a friend forwarded the fake pass to him on WhatsApp, the official said, reported PTI. The man was later arrested and booked on charges of cheating and forgery, the police added. Senior citizen duped of Rs 1.25 cr by cyber criminals posing as Data Protection Board official, cops In another case, a 64-year-old businessman from Naupada in Thane was cheated of Rs 1.25 crore in a cyber fraud involving callers impersonating Data Protection Board of India and Nashik police personnel, an official said on Saturday, reported PTI. The complainant was cheated through calls he received between November 11 and December 3, the Naupada police station official added. "He got a call from a man who identified himself as Rajesh Kumar Chaudhary of Data Protection Board of India based in Mumbai's Khar area. He told the victim that a SIM card in his name was illegally issued in Nashik and used for threatening people. He was told that a case had been registered at Panchavati police station," the official said, reported PTI. "The victim then got calls from cyber criminals posing as Nashik police personnel. He was told that a bank account in Nashik was opened using his Aadhaar card, which was being used for large-scale illegal money transactions and money laundering, resulting in a case under the National Security Act," the official added, reported PTI. The fraudsters threatened and forced him to transfer Rs 1,25,50,280 into multiple accounts, the official said. The Data Protection Board of India is a tribunal established under the DPDP Act 2023 to enforce privacy laws, handle data breach complaints, adjudicative violations and impose penalties on companies misusing personal data. It was formally established in November this year, reported PTI. A case was registered on Friday under Sections 318(4) (cheating) and 319(2) (cheating by personation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, he said. Efforts are on to nab the accused by tracking digital footprints, banking transactions and call records, the official added. (With inputs from PTI)
07 December,2025 12:49 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentAn Inter-state gang operating out of Bhuj in Gujarat has been busted for running a sophisticated “money-doubling” scam across Mumbai, where victims were lured into handing over real cash and were instead given bundles of fake currency disguised with real notes popularly referred to as “Bachchon ka Bank” notes. Police have so far registered three separate cases at Kalachowki, Sion and Matunga police stations, all with a strikingly similar modus operandi. While an arrest has been made in the Kalachowki case, investigations are ongoing in the other two cases, with no arrests made so far in the Matunga case, police said. The ‘public place trust trap’ According to police, the gang deliberately avoids online transactions and cyber trails, insisting on face-to-face cash handovers at busy public spaces such as railway station areas, petrol pumps and hotels to build trust in victims and create a sense of safety. Victims were promised that their money would be “doubled” or increased manifold within minutes. To make the deception believable, the accused would hand over thick bundles of currency, with genuine Rs 500 notes placed only on the top and bottom, and the middle filled with clearly fake notes resembling children’s play bank currency. “The speed of the exchange and psychological pressure is the real weapon. Before the victim realises, the accused vanish,” a police officer said. Arrest in Kalachowki case In the Kalachowki case, police laid a trap near Cotton Green-Reay Road area on June 28 and arrested Ankit Dinanath Parasar, 28, who is believed to be a key carrier for the gang. He was found in possession of five bundles of counterfeit Rs 500 notes with a total face value of fake currency of Rs 25 lakh and a mobile phone allegedly used to coordinate the operation. Police seized 5000 counterfeit Rs 500 notes, with only 10 genuine notes used as cover to mislead the victim. During interrogation, the accused allegedly named his associates as Kabir, Nawab and Ranjit Bera. Victims lost at least Rs 5.5 lakh Police said the total confirmed loss to victims across the three cases stands at Rs 5.5 lakh so far. In the Sion case, a Pune-based woman was cheated of Rs 5 lakh after being promised a higher return. In the Matunga case, a male victim lost Rs 50,000 in a similar exchange scam. Based on these cases, The police estimate that over 6100 fake Rs 500 notes were circulated as part of the racket. Bhuj link under scanner Police, based on the ongoing investigation, believe the gang is operating from Bhuj, Gujarat, with Mumbai being used as the primary execution location. Police are now analysing call records and financial trails to identify the full network. Another accused, Sanjay Chawariya, has been named in the Matunga case, where the investigation is still in progress. Along with Chawariya, there are two more accused involved, including a woman but they are yet to be arrested. Chawariya meanwhile has been sent notice to cooperate with the investigation, he is allegedly from Delhi but based in Mumbai. “In this type of fraud, citizens are made to believe that they will get an instant loan but they should be vary about the fact that there is no interest rate, no documentation, or anything except for verbal promises. Nobody will provide such money except for fraudsters,” said Rajendra Pawar, senior police inspector of Matunga police station. Modus Operandi >> Gang allegedly based in Bhuj, Gujarat>> Victims lured with money-doubling promises>> Meetings fixed at public places in Mumbai>> Bundles had real Rs 500 notes on top and bottom, fake “Bachchon Ka Bank” notes inside>> Quick handover + pressure tactics used>> Cases registered at Kalachowki, Sion and Matunga Do>> Verify loan sources before transferring money.>> Insist on official documents and receipts>> Use bank-to-bank transfers, not cash>> Report suspicious offers to the police immediately Don’t>> Don’t trust “double your money” schemes.>> Don’t carry large cash to unknown meetings.>> Don’t agree to deals made only on WhatsApp/phone calls.>> Don’t accept bundles without full verification
07 December,2025 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerThe Charkop police have booked a 28-year-old woman for cyber-harassing her live-in partner, his daughter, and another woman employee of the firm in which she is a partner with him. The woman, a partner in a film production house with the man, whom she was living with, allegedly sent obscene messages and circulated morphed images of the man’s first wife’s 16-year-old daughter as well as a 28-year-old pregnant woman employed at their office. The police said that the man lived separately from his wife, and added that during the live-in relationship, the accused reportedly had two children from her partner. Trouble erupted when a married woman employed in the same office became pregnant, and the accused suspected that her live-in partner was responsible, the police added. To defame the employee, the accused allegedly created and shared a morphed image on social media, showing a baby in the woman’s lap and claiming it was fathered by her partner. The accused is also said to have sent obscene messages to the partner’s daughter. Following complaints from both victims, the Charkop police have registered two separate FIRs against the accused woman, a Charkop resident. An officer stated that two FIRs have been registered including one POCSO against the accused woman.
07 December,2025 07:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe Kasturba Marg police have arrested a builder and his son for cheating of investors and homebuyers of several crores by offering flats that were never delivered. Ashok Jethwa, 55, and his son Mihir Jethwa, 35, were picked up from Ernakulam by Zone 12’s special team and are being brought to Mumbai. Investor loses Rs 1.74 crore A 50-year-old Khar West resident told police he had known the accused since 2016. They claimed they were redeveloping a project under Triveni Developers in Borivli East and offered him three flats in Borivli Nil Akash co-op housing society. They showed documents stating that the building had approval for 10 floors, a proposal for three more floors was with the BMC, the project was RERA-registered, and that possession would be given by 31 December 2018. Trusting this, he bought three flats and transferred R1,74,89,910 between 2016 and 2018. They also promised him 24 per cent interest for the delay. However, when he visited the site in December 2018, only six floors had been built, and work had been stopped. Later, the duo offered a flat in Kandivli, which was never delivered. When he asked for a refund, the accused allegedly told him, “Do whatever you want.” He then filed a complaint stating that the builders cheated him out of money, abandoned the project between 2018 and 2024 and violated the agreement. Police said the duo used fake Aadhaar cards and stayed across states to evade arrest, travelling under false identities. The special squad tracked them to a hotel in Ernakulam and arrested them on Sunday night. They were brought back to Mumbai on Tuesday. Further investigation is underway. Multiple cases registered Police said over six cases are registered against the duo at Kasturba Marg police station, with additional FIRs at Borivli and MHB Colony police stations. The two allegedly posed as developers, showed fake permissions, and assured buyers of timely possession. Case details Cr No. 177/25 R1.17 crCr No. 488/25 R1.51 crCr No. 351/25 R1.74 crCr No. 852/23 (MPID) R13.52 crCr No. 288/23 R75 lakhCr No. 108/23 R1.20 crBorivali: Cr No. 75/21, 464/24 (conditional bail), 42/24MHB: Cr No. 356/23
06 December,2025 09:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe Mulund police in Mumbai arrested three men within 24 hours for allegedly posing as police officers and defrauding a 71-year-old senior citizen of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.24 lakh, police said on Friday. The entire stolen property has been recovered, it said. According to police, the incident took place on December 2, between 3:40 pm and 4 pm, on Jatashankar Dosa Road in Mulund West, when the victim had stepped out for personal work. Three unknown men approached him, claimed to be police officials, and on that pretext took away his gold chain and two rings before fleeing, it said. CCTV footage from the area helped trace the suspects. With technical inputs, the first accused, Taufiq Siddiqui (41), was arrested from Mira Road. Further investigation led to the detention of Simone Gonsalves (63) from Vasai East and Mohammad Siddiqui (52) from Kurla East, said an official. Police said that the stolen jewellery was recovered from the accused. All three were produced before the court and remanded to police custody until Saturday.
05 December,2025 08:29 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerThe Malwani Police in Mumbai have arrested a 27-year-old Nigerian national for allegedly possessing 180 grams of cocaine, valued at around Rs 72 lakh in the international market, police said on Friday. On November 4, 2015, acting on the instructions of senior officers, Police Sub Inspector (PSI) Deepak Hinde along with his team were patrolling the Malwani police station limits when they received a tip-off at around 7 pm, officials said. An informant told police that a foreign national would be entering the area with illegal drugs, sources said. The team immediately conveyed the information to senior officials and set up a trap. The suspect was intercepted and detained. In the presence of two panch witnesses, police conducted a search and recovered 180 grams of cocaine, police said. Officials said the drug is priced at about Rs 40,000 per gram in the international market. Police identified the arrested individual as Monachi Agwu alias Oliver J. Agwu, 27. According to police, he was allegedly in possession of a commercial quantity of cocaine and intended to sell it illegally. A case has been registered at Malwani Police Station under sections 8 (c) and 29(c) of the NDPS Act, 1985. Police are now investigating where the suspect sourced the drugs, to whom he planned to supply them, and whether he has a criminal record or any accomplices, officials said. Officers also noted that the accused could not provide a passport or visa, and further verification is being carried out to determine how he entered India. Senior officers, including Additional Police Commissioner Shashikumar Meena, DCP Sandeep Jadhav (Zone 11), ACP Nita Padvi (Malwani Division), Senior Inspector Shailendra Nagar, Inspector Jeevan Bhatkule, PSI Dr Deepak Hinde and the surveillance team, were involved in the successful operation.
05 December,2025 06:19 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe police have seized liquor worth Rs 10.17 lakh transported illegally from Daman and arrested one person in Maharashtra's Palghar district, an official said on Friday, reported news agency PTI. Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Manor police station intercepted a tempo on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway on Wednesday, Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh said, reported PTI. The team found Daman-manufactured liquor worth Rs 10.17 lakh, banned in Maharashtra, he said. "A detailed inquiry revealed that the consignment had been loaded by one Amit Kumar Shukla Pandit, Gorab Gosale Monu, and Suraj Chaubey, whose full details are yet to be confirmed. The accused had instructed the driver, Kishore Bhika Baviskar, to deliver the goods to Dhule," he said, reported PTI. A case has been registered at Manor police station under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, and the driver has been arrested, while efforts are underway to trace the remaining accused, the official said. One held for liquor adulteration in Palghar; stock worth Rs 12 lakh seized In another case, the police have busted a liquor adulteration racket in Maharashtra's Palghar district by arresting one person and seizing stock worth Rs 12 lakh, an official said on Saturday, reported PTI. Acting on a tip-off, a team from the MBVV police's crime branch raided a chawl in Nalasopara on Thursday and arrested the accused, Dharmaraj Babulal Nishad (55), the official said, reported PTI. The accused allegedly procured cheap liquor from Diu-Daman and Goa, adulterated it with chemicals, and sold it in bottles of reputed high-end liquor brands, senior inspector Aviraj Kurhade said, reported PTI. "Our team has seized 368 bottles of 750 ml and 180 ml liquor of various high-end brands and other paraphernalia worth Rs 12 lakh," he said, reported PTI. A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949, along with sections 318 (cheating) and 274 (adulteration of food or drink intended for sale) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the official said. Meanwhile, the police have seized the banned mephedrone drug valued at Rs 51 lakh from a Nigerian national in Maharashtra's Palghar district, officials said on Thursday. Based on a tip-off, the police conducted a raid on Tuesday at Pragati Nagar in the Nalasopara area.
05 December,2025 01:55 PM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentA woman and three others have been arrested for allegedly killing her husband, whose partially burnt body was found on a highway in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Friday, reported news agency PTI. The Thane Rural police have booked Hasina Mehboob Shaikh, her brother, Fayaz Zakir Husain Shaikh (35), and two others, who plotted and killed the victim after he denied her a divorce, an official said, reported PTI. He said that the partially burnt and decomposed body of the victim, Tipanna, a native of Siruguppa village in Karnataka's Bellary district, was found near Shahapur on the Mumbai-Nashik Highway on November 25, reported PTI. According to the police, Tipanna and Hasina were estranged and lived separately due to some domestic disputes, and she had demanded a divorce, which he refused, reported PTI. "The primary motive appears to be the victim's refusal to grant the accused a divorce, leading her to plan his murder with the help of her relatives and friends," said Inspector Mukesh Dhage of the Shahapur police station. Acting on Hasina's instructions, her brother, who is an autorickshaw driver, along with his accomplices, took the victim for a ride on November 17. They drove him to a forested area near Shahapur, where they allegedly killed him and attempted to burn the body before dumping it near the highway, reported PTI. The police had registered a case under sections 103(1) (murder) and 238 (destruction of evidence) and zeroed in on the accused following a probe. During interrogation, Fayaz confessed that the murder was carried out on his sister Hasina's directions. Bungalow caretaker kills friend after argument during party In another case, a man allegedly killed his 50-year-old friend following a heated argument between them during their "liquor party" in Yeoor area of Maharashtra's Thane city, leading to the arrest of the former, police said on Wednesday, reported PTI. The incident took place on Tuesday night at a bungalow in Yeoor, where accused Rajkumar Yadav (27) worked as a caretaker, they said, reported PTI. "Yadav asked Bhanu Prasad Singh to visit the bungalow, where they planned to consume alcohol. Accordingly, Singh came there and they started drinking at night. Soon, a heated argument broke out between them. The situation escalated as both began hurling abuses at each other," an official of Vartaknagar police station said, reported PTI. During the altercation, Yadav allegedly picked up the handle of a mop used for cleaning the floor, and struck Singh on the head. Singh collapsed and died on the spot, he said, reported PTI. Following a tip-off, the police reached the spot and detained Yadav, and later place him under arrest on the charge of murder. His body was sent to a government hospital for a post-mortem. The bungalow where Yadav worked was owned by a local businessman, the police said. (With inputs from PTI)
05 December,2025 12:46 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe Mumbai Police have formed Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a senior woman police officer to investigate serious allegations against Anant Garje, the personal assistant (PA) to Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde, in his wife's suicide case, the officials said on Thursday. Pankaja Munde is Maharashtra's Animal Husbandry, Environment and Climate Change Minister. Garje was arrested last month for allegedly abetting the suicide of his 28-year-old wife, Dr Gauri Palve. Gauri was found dead at the couple’s rented Worli residence on November 23. Following a complaint from her father, Ashok Palve, the Worli Police had registered an FIR and arrested Garje the following day. He was produced before the court and remanded to police custody until November 2. He remains in judicial custody. Senior police officers said that the SIT will scrutinise all the digital evidence, including messages, call records and photographs exchanged between the couple. “We are awaiting the detailed post-mortem findings to ascertain the exact cause of death and rule out any foul play,” an officer said. According to the FIR, Gauri had confided in her father about frequent arguments with her husband since their marriage in February this year. On October 3, she allegedly sent him photographs on WhatsApp suggesting Garje was involved with another woman. When she confronted him, Garje allegedly threatened to harm himself and blame her for it. The complaint also names a few of Garje’s relatives who, according to the FIR, were aware of the alleged affair and had told Gauri that if she left him, they would get Garje remarried. The SIT will now re-examine all aspects of the case, including the role of the named relatives, and verify whether sustained harassment allegedly led Gauri to take the extreme step, officials said. Need help? below are suicide prevention helplines- Samaritans Mumbai (Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm): 84229-84527 Connecting NGO (From 10 am to 8 pm): 9922004305/9922001122 Snehi (From 10 am to 10 pm): 9376804102 1 Life: 7893078930 Aasra: 9820466726
04 December,2025 09:46 PM IST | Mumbai | Anish PatilADVERTISEMENT
