The mastermind in a sensational case involving the theft of gold worth Rs 47.27 lakh and a firing incident in south Mumbai last year has been arrested from Neral in Raigad district of Maharashtra after almost a year-long manhunt, a police official said on Friday. According to the police, the crime occurred on January 6 last year, when 36-year-old man, Chirag Dhandukiya, and his nephew were travelling on a scooter carrying gold jewellery worth Rs 47.27 lakh. They were intercepted by four men, who fired two rounds, injuring Dhandukiya’s nephew, and fled with the gold, the police said. An analysis of CCTV footage from the area helped the Mata Ramabai Ambedkar (MRA) Marg police arrest four accused soon after the incident. However, the main accused and one associate managed to escape at that time, police said. Main accused identified as habitual offender The police said that the main accused was identified as Kailash Mathura Suryawanshi alias KP, a resident of Ulhasnagar in Thane district of Maharashtra. "He is a habitual criminal who would form new gangs for each crime. Due to his criminal background, police invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the case," said an official. A tip suggested he would be visiting a doctor in Neral, leading to his arrest from the Bajarpeth area on January 6, the official said. Gold, gun and cartridges recovered Police recovered stolen gold worth Rs 12.91 lakh, along with a pistol and five live bullets, from the accused at the time of his arrest. Accused linked to 35 serious crimes According to the police, Suryawanshi is involved in at least 35 serious criminal cases registered across Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune and Dhule. He is also an accused in another robbery case in which MCOCA had been invoked earlier, police officials said. Teams tracked accused across states An official said that a team of police officials searched for the accused in several states of the country, including Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Police set up a special task force at the level of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone-1, and searched for him but initial attempts were unsuccessful. The final breakthrough came after a tip-off received by Sub-Inspector Suraj Deore, which helped trace and arrest the accused, said an official.
09 January,2026 09:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Nagpada Police in Mumbai have arrested three history-sheeters for allegedly committing burglary and theft, and recovered stolen property worth Rs 72.77 lakh from them before they could flee to their hometown in Bihar. The accused have been identified as Phulo Mohan Mukhiya (40), Santosh Ramjivan Mukhiya (33), and Lalu Mohan Mukhiya (37). Acting on confidential information received in the early hours of Wednesday, a team from Nagpada Police Station laid a trap and detained the trio around 5.30 am when they arrived in the area. During interrogation, the police recovered a large quantity of gold and diamond jewellery, Rs 35,000, groceries worth Rs 19,799 allegedly purchased using the proceeds of the theft, and two mobile phones costing Rs 18,000. The total value of the seized property is Rs 72,77,854. Nagpada Police foil escape bid, hand over trio to Santacruz with recovered loot The police said the accused had committed the theft in the Santacruz area and were making preparations to escape to Bihar with the stolen valuables. However, timely action by the Nagpada Police team led to their arrest and the recovery of the entire stolen property. The accused are also wanted in a theft case registered at Santacruz Police Station under Sections 305(a) and 331(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The trio were subsequently handed over to Santacruz Police along with the seized property. Police records show that Phulo Mohan Mukhiya has two previous cases registered against him, while Santosh Ramjivan Mukhiya and Lalu Mohan Mukhiya are involved in four and six cases, respectively, at Gamdevi Police Station.
09 January,2026 08:26 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerA Congress candidate contesting the BMC Election 2026 has filed a complaint with the police, claiming that he was threatened and asked to withdraw from the poll race, an official said on Friday, reported the PTI. The candidate, Pramod Narvekar, is contesting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections from Ward No. 87, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Vakola police station, the official said. According to the complaint, the incident took place on Wednesday night after Narvekar had completed his election campaign for the day. He later went to his office at Golibar Naka in Santacruz East. Asked to withdraw nomination Narvekar alleged that a man entered his office and demanded that he withdraw his nomination and stop campaigning. The man also allegedly threatened him with dire consequences, including a threat to his life. Police register NC case Based on the complaint, the police have registered a non-cognisable (NC) complaint against the unidentified man. Further investigation is currently underway, the official added. Polling for the BMC elections will be held on January 15, with the results scheduled to be announced the following day. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena candidate attacked with knife in Bandra Meanwhile, in a different incident, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena candidate was on Wednesday evening allegedly attacked with knife in Bandra east area of Mumbai and was rushed to a hospital, police said. The candidate was identified as Salim Qureshi who had been campaigning in the area after filing his nomination, sources said. Shaikh was injured in the knife attack in Bandra East on Wednesday evening, they said. According to the police, the incident took place around 5 pm in Sant Dyaneshwar Nagar, where Qureshi suffered cuts to his stomach. The police said that he is currently out of danger and receiving medical care. Mumbai Police said that multiple teams are actively investigating the incident on the ground and will take appropriate legal action. The motive behind the attack is yet to be confirmed, and further details are awaited. Get all BMC Election 2026 updates here | Your ward info below Read more: All about BMC Election Read more: Know Your Ward (with PTI inputs)
09 January,2026 06:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Mumbai Police have seized banned gutkha and flavoured pan masala products worth over Rs 2 crore from Mulund, arresting 10 persons in connection with the illegal trade, officials said on Friday. Tip-off leads police to stockpile near Mulund toll plaza Acting on confidential information, the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 7) received inputs that government-banned products were being transported in small vehicles and stored on vacant land near the old toll plaza close to the Paroli toll plaza in Mulund East. Following the tip-off, a team from Mulund Police Station conducted a raid at the identified location at around 6 am on January 8 under senior officers’ guidance. 14 vehicles seized, 10 persons detained During the operation, police seized 14 vehicles — including three Eicher trucks, 10 other vehicles and a car — and detained 10 persons allegedly involved in the illegal transportation and storage of banned products. A substantial stock of gutkha, chewing tobacco and flavoured pan masala of various brands was recovered from the seized vehicles. Seizure valued at over Rs 2.01 crore Officials said the banned products were valued at Rs 80,55,620, while the seized vehicles were estimated to be worth Rs 1,20,75,000, taking the total seizure value to Rs 2,01,30,620. The accused have been booked at Vikhroli Police Station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Two accused identified, probe underway Among those arrested are Adil Abubakar Sheikh (37) and Siraj Unullah Siddique (30). Further investigation into the supply chain and network is ongoing. Senior police officials commended the Mulund Police team for executing the operation under the supervision of officers from the eastern region.
09 January,2026 01:22 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerA 36-year-old man was arrested for allegedly molesting seven minor schoolgirls, aged between 14 and 15 years, in the Malvani area of Malad in Mumbai. The accused reportedly lured the girls with the promise of taking them for a drive before molesting them on a public road. Acting swiftly, the police registered a case under sections related to molestation and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and apprehended the accused within hours. According to police, one of the victims, a 14-year-old girl from Santacruz who studies in Malvani, left home for school around 7.30 a.m. She and her classmates were standing near the school premises when the accused approached them. Before the girls could react, he allegedly got close, hugged them, made obscene gestures, and molested all seven minors. Police said the accused also allegedly told the girls to meet him regularly at the same spot and promised to take them for a drive in his car. Terrified by the incident, the girls raised an alarm, which attracted local residents to the scene. Following the recording of the statement of the victim's mother, the police registered an offence against the accused. Malvani Police rushed to the location and, after recording the statement, formally registered the case under the POCSO Act and the relevant sections of the BNS. The accused was detained and later arrested in the afternoon. He was produced before the Dindoshi court, which remanded him to police custody for further investigation. Authorities said the police are investigating whether the accused may have been involved in similar incidents in the past. Mumbai Police confirmed that strict action has been taken due to the seriousness of the offence and the age of the victims, and assured that the investigation is ongoing. The incident has created fear in the area, and with the arrest, the authorities tried to address the situation. 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.
09 January,2026 11:08 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSA 17-year-old girl missing from Jogeshwari West for nearly eight months was finally traced after Oshiwara police cracked a digital clue — she had been secretly accessing Instagram using borrowed mobile phones — triggering a dramatic three-state chase that ended near a railway station in Assam. The teenager had gone missing in May 2025. Despite sustained efforts, including inter-state inquiries and two fruitless trips to Bihar, investigators found no physical or technical leads, and the case had gone cold. The breakthrough came when officers revisited the girl’s social circle and discovered that although she did not own a phone, she was logging into Instagram through borrowed devices. After tracing her Instagram ID, the linked mobile numbers were placed under technical surveillance. Initial location data showed movement in Assam before the phone went silent for several weeks. In late December, a brief activation revived the trail, prompting a team to rush to Assam. When that lead fizzled out, another sudden location ping surfaced near Tiruvallur, close to Chennai, forcing the officers to pivot overnight to Tamil Nadu for two days of intensive searches. Fresh technical inputs and renewed Instagram activity eventually pointed police back to Assam — this time to Lumding, a sensitive railway town. Coordinating with local police, the team traced the girl near Lumding railway station, where she was found alone. She was taken to the local police station with the assistance of a woman constable and later produced before the Child Welfare Committee, which ordered her placement at a One Stop Centre (OSC), also known as Sakhi, for care and protection. Senior officers said the case underscores how fleeting digital footprints and social media activity can revive long-stalled missing-person investigations when conventional leads run dry. May 2025Month ever since the 17-year-old girl was missing
09 January,2026 08:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Anish PatilThe Yellow Gate police have cracked a rare and daring high-seas robbery that took place nearly 65 nautical miles into the Arabian Sea, arresting two men from Gujarat for allegedly attacking a fisherman and looting gold from a fishing boat. The incident took place around 5 pm on December 16, 2025, when ‘Swargdan’, a fishing vessel operating far off the Vasai coast, suffered a gear failure and collided with another boat. Police said two men from the other vessel allegedly boarded ‘Swargdan’ and launched a sudden assault on fisherman Ashok Kashinath Pakacha, 50, of Vasai Koliwada. The accused allegedly attacked Pakacha with an iron rod and a knife, causing serious injuries, before forcibly snatching three gold chains weighing approximately 110 grams, valued at around '3.8 lakh. When other fishermen attempted to intervene and rescue him, they too were allegedly assaulted before the accused fled the spot. Following a complaint, Yellow Gate police registered a case under relevant provisions of the BNS. Given the offshore location of the crime, investigators relied on technical analysis of maritime movements, vessel routes, and confidential intelligence inputs. The operation was carried out under the leadership of Senior Police Inspector Chetan Rathod and PI (Crime) Sudarshan Chavan, with the investigation team comprising API Sachin Shelke, and Police Constables Deepak Netke, Sangram Jadhav, and Pralhad Mandave. The trail eventually led police to Jafrabad in Gujarat, where the accused — Bhupatbhai Shardulbhai Siyal, 45, and Kamlesh Bhupatbhai Siyal, 22, — were traced and arrested with the help of local police. During the arrest, police recovered two stolen gold chains weighing approximately 93 grams, valued at around '3 lakh. Efforts are on to recover the remaining stolen property. Police described the case as a significant breakthrough, highlighting the challenges involved in investigating crimes committed deep inside the Arabian Sea. Dec 16Day the incident occurred
08 January,2026 09:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Anish PatilA housekeeper from Goregaon was allegedly cheated of Rs 2.49 lakh and blackmailed with her semi-nude video by cyber fraudsters posing as a doctor and senior police officials, police said. In the first week of December 2025, the victim received a WhatsApp call from an unknown international number. The caller, who introduced himself as “Dr Sunny”, claimed to be an Indian doctor working abroad and gradually gained her trust through frequent calls and messages. During a video call, he allegedly coaxed her into removing her clothes above the waist. The call was secretly recorded. On December 15, the woman was told that the doctor had been arrested at the airport while allegedly travelling to Mumbai with expensive clothes, jewellery and foreign currency. Soon after, another caller posing as a ‘commissioner of police’ demanded money to secure his release. Terrified, the woman borrowed money and transferred multiple amounts — Rs 21,000, Rs 50,000, Rs 78,000 and more — through Google Pay and bank transfers to accounts provided by the fraudsters. Between December 15 and December 21, she transferred around Rs 2.49 lakh, including Rs 50,000 withdrawn from a fixed deposit. The threats did not stop there. The callers allegedly warned her that she and her children would be jailed and her property in her native village would be seized if she failed to comply. The harassment escalated on December 23 when the accused allegedly sent a voice note claiming he was in jail and threatened to make her private video viral if more money was not paid. The fraudsters also shared a screen recording of the semi-nude video from another international number. The woman initially remained silent before confiding in her employer, who helped her approach the police. The complainant has submitted screenshots of chats, bank transaction details, voice notes and the obscene video clip. A case has been registered against unknown persons under sections related to cheating, extortion, criminal intimidation, cyber fraud and outraging the modesty of a woman. Police are tracing the accused using mobile numbers and bank accounts used in the crime. Further investigation is underway. Dec 15Day when the fraudsters began extorting the victim
08 January,2026 09:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe Malad police have arrested a housekeeping staff member for allegedly stealing gold jewellery worth Rs 26.5 lakh from a locked flat in Malad West. The police have recovered the stolen property. According to the complainant, Devang Shashikant Shah, 36, he and his family had locked their flat before going out for dinner sometime between December 11 and December 15, 2025. During this period, an unknown person allegedly entered the house and stole approximately 185 grammes of gold jewellery from a cupboard in the complainant’s mother’s bedroom. Investigation and arrest Upon receiving information about the offence, a crime detection team led by Assistant Police Inspector Deepak Raivade visited the spot and collected CCTV footage from the residential building. Analysis of the footage and technical inputs revealed that the accused had closely observed the complainant’s movements and studied the layout of the house. Police suspect that the accused, Anil Fugni Chaupal, 34, had access to the cupboard key. On December 11, after keeping watch on the complainant and his family, the accused allegedly entered the flat through a window. The suspect was brought to the police station for questioning, during which his involvement in the offence was established. He was subsequently arrested and produced before the Borivli holiday court, which remanded him in custody. During interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime and handed over the jewellery to the police. The investigation was conducted by Assistant Police Inspector Deepak Raivade, with the assistance of Head Constables Jaideep Juvatkar, John Fernandes, and Mandar Gonjari and Police Constables Sujay Shere, Samadhan Wagh, and Vikram Babar. Further investigation is underway.
08 January,2026 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanA racket involving fake education certificates has been exposed during immigration checks at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Immigration officials detained Prathamesh Shirishbhai Maniyar, 39, a resident of Jamnagar, Gujarat, while he was arriving in Mumbai from Bangkok. Based on the findings, the Sahar police registered a case against him on Sunday under relevant sections. Investigations revealed that he charged between Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh for each forged document. According to Immigration Counter Officer Rohitash Kumar, posted with the Bureau of Immigration, Mumbai, Maniyar appeared for immigration clearance during the night shift and presented his Indian passport, but he failed to give satisfactory answers regarding his profession during preliminary questioning. Subsequently, he was referred to the wing in-charge for further inquiry. A police officer said, “During interrogation, Maniyar confessed that he had been working as an agent for nearly 10 years, arranging school and college admissions and providing forged higher secondary and university certificates for individuals seeking jobs in Canada and the UK. It has emerged that he charged between Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh for each certificate.” “A search of his mobile phone during the investigation revealed documents of various universities and several fake educational certificates. Maniyar admitted that these certificates were prepared with the help of other agents. It was also found that he used multiple bank accounts for financial transactions related to the racket,” a police officer said. According to the police, Maniyar revealed the names of other agents who helped him to forge documents.
08 January,2026 08:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaThe Kurar police have arrested a man for cheating and practising black magic after he allegedly duped a local jeweller of Rs 7.5 lakh by claiming he could magically convert copper metal into rare antique coins worth crores. The arrested accused has been identified as Suraj alias Tinku Namdev More. Three of his associates, including a self-proclaimed astrologer and a self-styled tantric, are absconding. According to police, the accused targeted a 47-year-old goldsmith who owns a jewellery shop in Malad East. The complainant was allegedly lured with claims that copper, silver, or gold could be transformed into miraculous antique coins using secret chemicals, mantras, and black magic rituals. The gang claimed these coins could fetch exorbitant prices in India and abroad and even promised that the process could “make it rain money”. In his statement, the complainant said he was first introduced to Hasibul alias Pintu Sheikh, a local resident. Sheikh later brought in Santosh Gangaram Shelar, a self-proclaimed astrologer who carried so-called mystical stones. The trio eventually introduced Suraj More, projecting him as the mastermind behind the so-called miracle coin process. In September 2024, after repeated persuasion, the jeweller handed over '3.5 lakh. When no coins were delivered, the accused cited a fake police raid in Bhayandar as an excuse for the delay. In March 2025, the gang struck again, convincing the jeweller to invest more money. This time, '4 lakh was paid through cash and online transfers. The accused then made the complainant rent a room at an SRA building in Malad East, which they turned into a so-called black magic laboratory. Police said the accused staged elaborate rituals, coating copper coins with chemicals, wrapping them in red cloth, placing needles beside them and chanting mantras. A man identifying himself as Sunny Dutta Bengali, posing as a tantric expert, allegedly led the rituals, claiming the process would take 10 to 15 days. On March 19, the gang demanded an additional Rs 60,000, promising a “final miracle”. After collecting the money, all the accused disappeared without delivering any coins or refunding the total amount of Rs 7.5 lakh, police said. After repeated follow-ups failed, the victim approached the Kurar police, who registered a case. “Under the guidance of DCP Mahesh Chimate and Senior Inspector Sanjeev Tavde, PSI Avinash Nalavade and his detection team arrested Suraj alias Tinku More on January 4. The other accused, including Hasibul Sheikh, Santosh Shelar, and Sunny Dutta Bengali, are currently absconding,” said a police officer. The police are probing whether the gang has cheated other jewellers or individuals using similar scams. Rs 7.5LTotal amount conned
08 January,2026 08:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanADVERTISEMENT
