Mumbai Police have arrested a school staffer in connection with an alleged case of sexual misconduct involving a five-year-old girl near an educational institution in Malad West. According to Malad Police officers, the incident allegedly occurred near a school on SV Road. The accused, a 30-year-old school peon, was taken into custody on Friday by the Malad Police’s detection staff from his residential area. The child’s mother, in her complaint to the police, alleged that the accused threatened her daughter and made inappropriate physical contact. Despite the matter being brought to the notice of the school administration, no action was allegedly taken at the time, prompting her to approach the police, she further claimed. Malad Police book school's CEO for allegedly failing to take timely action Based on her complaint, a case has also been registered against the 65-year-old chief executive officer (CEO) of the school. Senior police officers visited the school as part of the investigation and said that further inquiry is underway to ascertain the sequence of events and fix accountability.
07 February,2026 10:06 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe South Regional Cyber Police Station, Mumbai, has arrested seven individuals from various states in connection with a major share market fraud that defrauded investors of nearly Rs 11 crore using a fake mobile application, officials said on Friday. The scam targeted a 68-year-old complainant who was approached via WhatsApp groups with promises of high returns on investments in the stock market. The fraudsters convinced the senior citizen to download a fake application named Warburg Pincin and invest Rs 10,98,65,000 between December 29, 2025, and January 19, 2026, the police said in a press release. Following a complaint registered on the National Cyber Crime Portal (NCCP) on the 1930 helpline, the Mumbai Police recovered Rs 2.21 lakh from the total amount through the portal. Investigations revealed that the funds were routed through multiple fake bank accounts across different states. Recognising the gravity of the case, the deputy commissioner of police (cybercrime) directed the formation of nine special investigation teams, which were dispatched to several states. The accused have been identified as Kuvarlal Doma Yele, 57, Gondia, Maharashtra; Adarshsen Keshavath Anand, 27, and Amtyansen Keshavath Anand, 23, from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh; Sunil Dinanath Gupta, 41, Bhubaneswar, Odisha; Rasaraj Chau Bawri, 32, Muzaffarpur, Bihar; Sanjay Chander Singh, 51, Mohali, Punjab, and Chirod Chandra Sahu, 57, Bhadak, Odisha. The seven accused allegedly opened bank accounts under fake names and received Rs 2.06 crore with suspicious transactions totalling Rs 13,98,69,446 observed across the accounts. Additional complaints linked to these accounts are being reviewed nationally via the NCCP. Police said the arrests mark a significant breakthrough in the first level of investigation into the fraudulent accounts. The operation was carried out under the supervision of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Additional Commissioner Lakshmi Gautam, Joint Commissioner Shailesh Balkawade, and Deputy Commissioner Purushottam Karad, among other personnel. Mumbai Police guidelines for citizens Do not trust social media videos promising high returns on share market investments. Avoid sharing personal information on such links. Refrain from joining unknown WhatsApp/Telegram groups. Keep privacy settings to “My Contacts Only” on messaging apps. Consult only Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)-registered investment advisors. Transfer funds only to legitimate demat accounts, not random bank accounts. Report suspicious calls or messages to the nearest police station or the cyber helpline at 1930.
07 February,2026 08:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Vanrai police have arrested Michael Vega, 62, a resident of Kamothe in Navi Mumbai, in connection with a foreign job fraud case in which aspirants were allegedly cheated of lakhs of rupees on the pretext of overseas employment. Police are currently searching for other accused involved in the racket. The case came to light following a complaint filed by Pawan Rajendra Dhamankar, 28, a resident of Andheri West, who works as a customer service specialist at a private firm. Dhamankar told the police that he was lured into the scam after coming across an Instagram page named ‘Tortoise Communication Pvt Ltd’ while searching for overseas job opportunities in April 2024. After submitting his details on the website, Dhamankar was contacted on WhatsApp by a woman identifying herself as Shraddha Sarang, who invited him to meet at an office in Kandivli West. During the meeting, he was introduced to Vega, who allegedly demanded R4.5 lakh in instalments for arranging a job overseas. Subsequently, Dhamankar was taken to another office in Goregaon East, where he was introduced to Madhukar Jha, another key accused. Between July 2024 and November 2024, the complainant transferred Rs 1.5 lakh in instalments via UPI to Jha’s bank account, allegedly for job processing, visa appointments, and documentation related to employment in Portugal and other European countries. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was also executed to gain his trust. However, visa appointments were repeatedly cancelled, and delays continued. In December 2024, Dhamankar was informed that Jha had passed away, following which Vega assured him that the process would be completed. Later, Vega claimed that Jha’s bank account had been frozen due to fraud and began avoiding personal meetings. By March 2025, all communication had ceased, Vega’s phone had been switched off, and the Goregaon office was found shut. It was then that Dhamankar realised that he had been cheated. Police investigations revealed that several other job seekers were similarly duped using social media platforms, fake offices, and false promises of overseas employment. Apart from Vega, the accused include Shraddha Sarang, Parvin Sheikh, Vijay Utekar, and other unidentified associates. The Vanrai police had registered a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy last year. Cops were probing the financial trail, and arrested Vega on Wednesday. “More arrests are expected as the investigation progresses”, said an officer from Vanrai police station.
07 February,2026 07:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanPolice have arrested a 45-year-old man for allegedly stabbing his wife to death at their home in Thane city of Maharashtra, and attempting to destroy evidence by cleaning the crime scene, officials said on Thursday. According to the new agency PTI, the incident took place around 9:30 pm on February 3 in the Mumbra area. The accused, Dinesh Ramesh Vyas, attacked his wife Meena with a sharp weapon in the drawing room of their house, inflicting grievous injuries that proved fatal, senior inspector Anil Shinde of Mumbra police station said. “After committing the crime, he tried to wash away the bloodstains with water in an attempt to destroy evidence,” Shinde added, reported news agency PTI. The accused has been taken into police custody for further investigation. Man rapes and impregnates speech, hearing-impaired daughter; held In another crime news, a 50-year-old conservancy worker from South Mumbai was arrested on Thursday for allegedly raping his 20-year-old speech- and hearing-impaired daughter and impregnating her, police said, according to PTI. The arrest came after DNA tests on 17 samples collected from the area confirmed his biological link to the foetus, the official added. Hospital authorities immediately informed the police, following which a case of rape was registered against unidentified persons, the official added. “During the probe, her father, a sweeper, denied sexually abusing the 20-year-old. The man also has two other children, including a daughter, who are speech- and hearing-impaired. He came under suspicion after failing to lodge a complaint regarding the victim. Two others were also arrested from the locality after their roles came to light,” the official said, reported PTI. “The forensic science lab report received on January 27 confirmed a DNA match linking the victim's father to the foetus. He was arrested and later produced before a court that remanded him in judicial custody. The roles of other suspects are under investigation,” the official added. “Two persons arrested for sexually assaulting the victim were among the 17 whose samples were collected for DNA testing. The incident came to light on September 22 last year, when the victim complained of stomach pain to her grandmother through gestures. She was admitted to a hospital in the city, where it was found that she was five months pregnant,” he said, reported PTI. (With PTI inputs)
05 February,2026 10:44 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentPolice have booked a yet to be identified elderly man for allegedly making obscene gestures at a woman travelling in a Mumbai local train, officials said on Thursday. The incident took place when the woman was reportedly travelling in the ladies’ compartment of a local train. The police said that an it has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the unidentified elderly man and further probing the matter, reported the PTI. The incident reportedly took place on Tuesday during the train’s journey between Dadar and Mulund stations. According to police, the woman was travelling in the ladies’ compartment when she noticed the man standing in the adjacent coach meant for persons with disabilities. The man allegedly made obscene gestures towards her during the journey. When the train reached Mulund station, the woman attempted to confront him, but the accused fled from the spot. GRP begins probe The woman later approached the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Thane and lodged a complaint. Based on her statement, an FIR was registered. Police said they are examining CCTV footage from Mulund railway station and nearby areas to identify and trace the accused. Man rapes and impregnates speech, hearing impaired daughter; held A 50-year-old conservancy worker from south Mumbai was arrested on Thursday for allegedly raping his 20-year-old speech- and hearing-impaired daughter and impregnating her, police said, according to PTI. The arrest came after DNA tests on 17 samples collected from the area confirmed his biological link to the foetus, the official added. “Two persons arrested for sexually assaulting the victim were among the 17 whose samples were collected for DNA testing. The incident came to light on September 22 last year, when the victim complained of stomach pain to her grandmother through gestures. She was admitted to a hospital in the city, where it was found that she was five months pregnant,” he said, reported PTI. Hospital authorities immediately informed the police, following which a case of rape was registered against unidentified persons, the official added. “During the probe, her father, a sweeper, denied sexually abusing the 20-year-old. The man also has two other children, including a daughter, who are speech- and hearing-impaired. He came under suspicion after failing to lodge a complaint regarding the victim. Two others were also arrested from the locality after their roles came to light,” the official said, reported PTI. “The forensic science lab report received on January 27 confirmed a DNA match linking the victim's father to the foetus. He was arrested and later produced before a court that remanded him in judicial custody. The roles of other suspects are under investigation,” the official added. (with PTI inputs)
05 February,2026 10:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA 50-year-old conservancy worker from south Mumbai was arrested on Thursday for allegedly raping his 20-year-old speech- and hearing-impaired daughter and impregnating her, police said, according to PTI. The arrest came after DNA tests on 17 samples collected from the area confirmed his biological link to the foetus, the official added. “Two persons arrested for sexually assaulting the victim were among the 17 whose samples were collected for DNA testing. The incident came to light on September 22 last year, when the victim complained of stomach pain to her grandmother through gestures. She was admitted to a hospital in the city, where it was found that she was five months pregnant,” he said, reported PTI. Hospital authorities immediately informed the police, following which a case of rape was registered against unidentified persons, the official added. “During the probe, her father, a sweeper, denied sexually abusing the 20-year-old. The man also has two other children, including a daughter, who are speech- and hearing-impaired. He came under suspicion after failing to lodge a complaint regarding the victim. Two others were also arrested from the locality after their roles came to light,” the official said, reported PTI. “The forensic science lab report received on January 27 confirmed a DNA match linking the victim's father to the foetus. He was arrested and later produced before a court that remanded him in judicial custody. The roles of other suspects are under investigation,” the official added. Class 8 girl raped, impregnated by neighbour in Gurugram In another similar shocking incident, a Class 8 girl was allegedly raped and impregnated by her neighbour in Gurugram's Sector 10, police said on Thursday, reported PTI. The incident, which reportedly occurred last month, came to light on Monday when the 14-year-old complained of severe abdominal pain. She was immediately taken to a hospital, where doctors confirmed her pregnancy and alerted the authorities. According to PTI, the girl is currently undergoing treatment and recorded her statement before a magistrate late Tuesday evening. Following her complaint, an FIR was registered against the accused under the POCSO Act at Sector 10 police station. Police identified the accused as a 19-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh, who worked as a helper in the same company as the victim’s mother. He reportedly lived alone in a rented accommodation near the girl’s house and fled to evade arrest. “The accused is currently absconding. Our teams are conducting raids, and he will be arrested soon,” a senior police officer said, reported PTI. (With PTI inputs)
05 February,2026 10:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA Mumbai court on Thursday remanded five accused, arrested in connection with the filmmaker Rohit Shetty firing case, to police custody until February 11, reported the PTI. All five were produced before a magistrate’s court, where the police sought their custody for further investigation. The court granted the request, observing that the offence was serious and that investigators required adequate time to probe the case. Police informed the court that the accused were acting on the instructions of Shubham Lonkar, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, who is currently wanted in the case. Officials said the accused were in regular contact with Lonkar, who is also wanted in connection with the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique in October 2024 and the firing incident outside actor Salman Khan’s house in April 2024, according to the PTI. Police have so far arrested five people in the case. Aditya Gayaki (19), Siddharth Yenpure (20), Samarth Pomaji (18) and Swapnil Sakat (23) were arrested on Sunday. The fifth accused, Asaram Fasale, was taken into custody on Thursday. A pistol, three magazines and an air gun were recovered from one of the accused, police said. Shots were fired at Shetty's Juhu house The firing incident took place at around 12.45 am on Sunday at Rohit Shetty’s nine-storey residential building in Mumbai’s Juhu area. At least five rounds were fired at the first floor of the building, with one bullet hitting the glass of a gym located inside the premises. No injuries were reported. Police said they are continuing their investigation to identify the full conspiracy behind the attack and to trace the wanted accused. Shubham Lonkar still at large Meanwhile, investigators have found that the arrested accused were in contact with Shubham Lonkar, a resident of Akola, who police say masterminded the firing. Lonkar later claimed responsibility for the attack through social media posts. He still remains at large. He was arrested by Akola police in January 2024 in a weapons supply case and later released on bail. Lonkar was also named as an accused in the Baba Siddique murder case in October 2024 and was suspected in the earlier firing incident outside Salman Khan’s residence.
05 February,2026 07:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Bombay High Court on Thursday rejected a plea by jailed gangster Abu Salem seeking parole, after he expressed his inability to pay the police escort charges required by prison authorities, reported the PTI. Abu Salem is currently serving a 25-year jail sentence in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. Salem had applied for emergency parole to travel to his native village in Uttar Pradesh following the death of his elder brother, Abu Hakim Ansari, in November last year. He said he wished to attend the last rites and related mourning rituals. A division bench comprising Justices Ajay Gadkari and Shyam Chandak dismissed the plea after Salem’s lawyer told the court that his client could not afford the high security escort charges demanded by the authorities, according to the PTI. During an earlier hearing, Salem’s lawyer had informed the court that he would not be able to pay more than Rs 1 lakh towards escort expenses. The court had then observed that Salem “cannot bargain” and would have to pay the full mandatory charges if he wanted parole. Based on this submission, the bench refused to grant him relief. Jail authorities had earlier rejected request In his petition filed in December 2025, the gangster said his application was delayed due to the court’s Christmas vacation. He stated that he had applied for a 14-day emergency parole on November 15, shortly after his brother’s death, as per the PTI. However, jail authorities rejected his request on November 20. Abu Salem also pointed out that since his arrest in November 2005, he has largely remained in custody and was granted short parole only after the deaths of his mother and stepmother, as per the PTI. Convictions in multiple serious cases Abu Salem was extradited from Portugal to India on November 11, 2005, after a prolonged legal process. He is a convicted accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. In a separate case, a special TADA court sentenced him to life imprisonment for the 1995 murder of Mumbai-based builder Pradeep Jain. Maharashtra govt had opposed Salem's parole Earlier, Maharashtra govt has opposed the parole of gangster Abu Salem and told the Bombay High Court that he would flee if granted it, reported the PTI. The state stated that granting parole to Abu Salem could lead to him absconding, which may cause serious diplomatic issues between India and Portugal, the country from which he was extradited. In an affidavit filed before the court last month, the state opposed Salem’s plea seeking 14 days of parole following the death of his elder brother. The government said that, at most, Salem could be granted two days of emergency parole, according to the PTI. When the petition came up for hearing before a bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Shyam Chandak, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it was the prosecuting agency in the case and therefore should be impleaded as a respondent. The CBI had further argued that granting parole or bail to Salem could lead to serious law and order problems, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
05 February,2026 05:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Crime Branch of the Navi Mumbai Police has arrested three men for allegedly posing as police officers and robbing a gold buyer of Rs 13.25 lakh in Kharghar. The accused were nabbed after an intensive probe involving CCTV analysis and technical surveillance, officials said on Wednesday. The incident took place on January 12, when the complainant and a witness were standing near a bank in Sector 20, Kharghar. The victim had come to purchase gold ornaments at a lower rate after being contacted by an agent named Raj. As the duo waited on the road, a white Ertiga car pulled up, and three men stepped out, claiming to be police officers. Officials said that the impersonators accused the victim of carrying illegal cash and forcibly seized her bag containing R13.25 lakh. They then pushed Raj inside the car before fleeing the spot. A case was registered at Kharghar police station under relevant sections of the BNS. Following the case, the Crime Branch launched a parallel investigation and scanned CCTV footage from the crime scene and nearby areas. Officers found that the Ertiga used in the crime had a fake number plate and that the accused had also used a motorcycle during the operation. Further technical analysis revealed the involvement of eight to ten persons in the conspiracy. Based on leads developed during the probe, police formed multiple teams and arrested two accused from Ghansoli on January 26 and another from CBD Belapur on January 27. The arrested accused have been identified as Vishal Bajirao Tupe, 35; Rohit Rajaram Shelar, 26; and Manoj Ankush Bhandari, 37, all residents of Navi Mumbai and Thane district. Officials said that following their arrest, the police recovered a white Maruti Ertiga worth Rs 15.14 lakh, a motorcycle, mobile phones, cash, and other incriminating material. Investigators also found that the accused have multiple criminal cases registered against them across multiple police stations, involving cheating, robbery, and criminal conspiracy.
05 February,2026 11:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Amarjeet SinghThe North Cyber Police have arrested three Pune-based men for allegedly cheating a Borivli-based businessman of '48.50 lakh by luring him into fake share market investment schemes promising high returns. According to the police, the accused were engaged in different businesses but joined a cyber fraud syndicate in search of easy money and part-time income. They allegedly provided bank accounts to route the cheated money and earned commissions in return. The complainant, a 43-year-old businessman working as an executive officer at the Diamond Market in BKC, received a phone call in October 2025 from an unknown woman identifying herself as “Riya”. She claimed to be associated with brokers registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India and persuaded him to join a WhatsApp group titled Daily Recommendations 602. The group regularly shared stock tips, IPO updates, QIB investment options, and screenshots showing purported profits. To further gain his trust, the victim was later added, without his consent, to a so-called “VIP Study Group”. He was instructed to download a trading application named TMGPLUS through a shared link. The app closely resembled legitimate trading platforms and displayed fabricated profits, prompting the complainant to invest progressively larger amounts. Between November 18 and December 12, 2025, the businessman transferred '48.50 lakh via IMPS, NEFT, and RTGS to multiple bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. While the app initially allowed small withdrawals to build confidence, larger withdrawals were later blocked. IPO trap When the complainant attempted to withdraw his principal amount along with the displayed profits, the accused claimed the funds were stuck due to an IPO allotment process and demanded an additional '50 lakh to “release” the money. Upon refusing and after repeated follow-ups, the victim realised he had been cheated. He subsequently lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 and later approached the police. Police action Following technical analysis of bank transactions, mobile numbers, WhatsApp groups, and digital trails, a team from the North Cyber Police Station, led by Inspector Kiran Aher and API Sudarshan Patil, coordinated with Ambegaon Police Station in Pune and arrested the accused on January 30, 2026. The accused have been identified as Amar Bapu Shinde, 31, Prashant Sunil Kadav, 33, and Pranil Sanjay Rathod, 25, all residents of Pune. “During the investigation, it was revealed that all three accused are well educated and based in Pune. Shinde, who worked with a finance company, provided his bank account details to the fraudsters. Kadav acted as a middleman who sourced bank accounts for routing transactions, while Rathod collected the money from these accounts and handed it over to the mastermind. All three earned commissions from the transactions,” said an officer from the North Cyber Police. Police traced a key transaction of '33 lakh routed through an RBL Bank account registered in the name of Sunenergier Solutions Pvt Ltd, Pune. Further probe confirmed the involvement of the three accused in providing banking channels to the cyber fraud syndicate. Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the racket and trace the siphoned funds. Police have urged citizens to remain cautious of unsolicited investment offers, WhatsApp stock tip groups, and unknown trading applications, and to verify credentials before investing in the stock market.
05 February,2026 11:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanTwo suspects were arrested for allegedly robbing a passenger at Andheri railway station in Mumbai at knife point by the railway cops and handed over to the Government Railway Police (GRP) for further action, officials said on Wednesday. The accused were nabbed by the Crime Prevention and Detection Squad (CPDS), a specialised team within the Railway Protection Force (RPF). According to the officials, the incident took place on the night of January 30, 2026, on the railway bridge on the eastern side of Andheri station. The complainant, Mohammad Siraj Ansari (22), told police that he was standing on the railway bridge with his friends at around 9.30 pm when three unknown men stopped them. The accused allegedly falsely accused him of supplying ganja. One of them threatened him with a knife and warned that he would kill him if he did not cooperate. The attackers allegedly snatched his Vivo Y31 mobile phone, worth Rs 16,499, and also took his Union Bank ATM card. The victim was forced to reveal his ATM PIN, after which Rs 10,500 was withdrawn from his bank account. CCTV footage helps identify suspects On January 31, the victim approached the GRP with a memo to view CCTV footage. Based on his statement, the CPDS team examined CCTV cameras near the spot. The complainant clearly identified all three suspects seen in the footage as the men involved in the robbery, officials said. During routine patrolling on February 3, the CPDS team — including constables Anuj, Shailendra, Deepak and Ankit — spotted two of the three suspects in the Andheri station area. The suspects were detained and taken to the RPF post at Andheri, where Sub-Inspector Mukesh Tyagi questioned them. The two youths were identified as Ayan Ismail Shaikh (19) and Abhishek Bablu Kewat (19). After being shown the CCTV footage, both allegedly admitted their presence in the video but failed to give satisfactory answers about the crime. Probe ongoing The accused were later handed over to GRP Andheri for further legal proceedings. On February 4, 2026, GRP Andheri registered an FIR under Sections 309(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, in connection with the robbery. Further investigation is underway, said an official.
04 February,2026 10:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
