Police in Maharashtra's Thane district have booked five members of a family for allegedly defrauding a businessman of USD 20,000 (over Rs 17 lakh) under the pretext of assisting with foreign exchange services, an official has said, reported news agency PTI. In his complaint to the Mahatma Phule Chowk police, Rajesh Amritlal Bhatia said a long-time friend had asked him to arrange traveller's checks for his daughter's architecture studies in Dubai, reported PTI. Citing the FIR, the official said on Tuesday that Bhatia was carrying USD 20,000 in a bag on November 6, when two brothers, one of whom worked in his friend's office, in the Kalyan area. The duo took Bhatia to their home, claiming one of their family members had expertise in foreign travel documents. They persuaded him to hand over the money and asked him to collect the traveller's checks in the evening. However, when Bhatia returned, the suspects provided evasive answers and eventually fled with the currency, the official said, reported PTI. "We have registered a cheating case after a preliminary inquiry. The accused family members have been at large since the incident," said inspector Baliramsing Shankarshing Pardeshi, reported PTI. Man loses Rs 17.61 lakh in forex trading fraud in Thane district In another case, a 38-year-old man from Maharashtra's Thane district was allegedly duped of Rs 17.61 lakh by cyber fraudsters who promised him high returns in forex and commodity trading, police said on Tuesday, reported PTI. The Dombivli police registered a first information report under the Information Technology Act on Sunday in connection with the fraud that occurred between August and September, an official said. According to the complainant, the accused posed as customer support executives on Telegram and other online platforms, and lured him to invest in forex trading, gold USD, and other commodities, promising him attractive returns, he said, reported PTI. The victim was provided with online links and persuaded to transfer money into various bank accounts, and he ended up transferring Rs 17.61 lakh as directed, the official said. The complainant, however, did not receive any returns on his investment or a refund, he said. "No arrests have been made so far. We are verifying bank transactions, digital trails and online links used in the fraud to identify all those involved," the official said, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
24 December,2025 01:03 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe arrest of a 42-year-old man for his alleged involvement in a 16-year-old murder case in Maharashtra's Palghar district has brought to the fore his role in a similar crime committed in Uttar Pradesh in 1998, police said on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI. Avinash Lalta Prasad Soni and a few others were booked in 2009 in the murder of a man over brokerage money in Nalasopara. While the other accused were arrested, Soni fled to Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh and lived there for several years under a false identity, they said, reported PTI. Acting on inputs, the police arrested Soni from Naigaon East, on the outskirts of Mumbai, on December 22, said senior inspector Vishal Valvi from Nalasopara police station. The investigation took a dramatic turn when Soni admitted to a much older crime. He confessed to committing a murder on the day of Holi in 1998 in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, along with four accomplices, said Valvi, reported PTI. "We are taking further action after receiving information from Kotwali police station in Azamgarh," he said. Man murders colleague, dumps body in water tank in Palghar; held In another case, a 27-year-old worker has been arrested for allegedly killing his colleague and dumping his body in the water tank on the premises of a company in Maharashtra's Palghar district, police said on Tuesday, reported PTI. The accused, Asaram Rakesh, was nabbed within hours of the incident that occurred at an industrial estate in the Vasai area on Monday, an official said, reported PTI. He said that the accused had a dispute with his colleague, Rakesh Singh, and allegedly attacked him with an iron rod on his head and dumped his body in a water tank on the company premises, reported PTI. Their co-workers found out about the attack and alerted the victim's kin and the police, following which the body was fished out and sent for post-mortem, the official said. A case was registered under section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and a probe is underway, he said. Meanwhile, the 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. 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. (With inputs from PTI)
24 December,2025 11:55 AM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentThe Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized assets valued at Rs 41.64 lakh linked to Navin Gurunath Chichkar, a Navi Mumbai-based drug trafficker and alleged to be the kingpin of an inter-state and international narcotics syndicate, reported news agency ANI. A release from the NCB reads, "In an effort towards dismantling the illicit financial supply of drug network, the office of Competent Authority and Administrator, Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act and the NDPS Act has confirmed the freezing order issued by NCB Mumbai concerning movable and immovable properties of drug kingpin involved in the seizure of multiple type of drugs like Cocaine, LSD, Ganja and others. The value of the freezed properties is Rs. 41,64,701," reported ANI. On January 27, 2001, and January 28, 2001, based on specific intelligence, the Narcotics Control Bureau, Mumbai Zonal Unit, had intercepted three accused persons in the area of Belapur and Nerul, Navi Mumbai, and seized multiple types of drugs like Cocaine, LSD in commercial quantities, and Ganja. The contraband was being sold in the areas of Belapur and Nerul of Navi Mumbai. Subsequent investigation identified the accused and the kingpin Navin Gurunath Chichkar of CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, as the Kingpin operating the international and inter-state drug syndicate, the release stated. An intensive financial investigation was conducted to trace assets acquired through illicit drug sales proceeds. This probe led to the identification of one bank account in City Bank and one luxurious vehicle, Mini Cooper, which were freezed in November 2025, collectively valued at Rs. 41,64,701, which has been confirmed by the Competent Authority in December 2025, reported ANI. Habitual offender The main accused, Navin Chichkar, is a habitual offender and a notorious drug trafficker in the area of Belapur and Nerul of Navi Mumbai. He has five NDPS cases registered against him; three by NCB Mumbai, one by Nerul PS, and one by Customs, the release said. He has been arrested by NCB Mumbai after a long process of tracing and continued attempts. He is currently in judicial custody under the mentioned cases, as per the release. (With inputs from ANI)
24 December,2025 11:45 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPolice in Nagpur have seized MD drug valued at over Rs 53 lakh and arrested two men from Rajasthan in connection with the seizure, officials have said, reported news agency PTI. The action was taken on Tuesday after the MIDC police received inputs that two persons were planning to sell MD, commonly known as ecstasy, near Sangam Road, Wanadongri, reported PTI. Two men, identified as Ramswaroop Bhairaram Bishnoi (24) and Hariram Jagdish Paliwal (31), both residents of Kalyanpur tehsil of Rajasthan's Balotra district, were then arrested from the spot, police said, reported PTI. The duo was carrying 533 grams of MD, valued at over Rs 53 lakh, an official said. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, he added. Mephedrone worth Rs 7.26 lakh seized in Thane district; one held In another case, a 55-year-old man has been arrested for alleged possession of mephedrone worth Rs 7.26 lakh in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Sunday, reported PTI. Ismail Mohammad Safhi Abbasi, a native of Indore, was caught with the contraband in Ulhasnagar on Friday afternoon, an official said, reported PTI. "A patrolling team from the Vitthalwadi police station spotted the accused moving around in a suspicious manner near the VTC Ground. When he was questioned and searched, 36.3 gm of MD powder was recovered from his possession," he said. The arrested accused has revealed that he had sourced the drug from one Harish, who also hails from Indore, and efforts are on to trace him, the official said, reported PTI. "We are investigating the entire supply chain to identify where the drugs originated from and to whom they were to be sold," the officer said, adding that a case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Interstate ganja smuggling gang busted in Thane; 8 members held, MCOCA invoked Meanwhile, in a major crackdown on drug trafficking, police in Thane district have busted a ganja smuggling gang operating across multiple states, arresting eight of its 14 members and seizing Rs 8.5 lakh worth of the contraband, officials said on Thursday. A country-made pistol was also seized from the gang members, who have been booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Atul Zende said. Talking to reporters, Zende informed the operation was carried out jointly by the Mahatma Phule police station and the Kalyan traffic police following a specific tip-off received in August about a suspect transporting drugs via the Waldhuni bridge area in Kalyan town. The arrests were made over multiple days recently, said the police officer. Acting on the information, teams led by senior Inspector Baliram Singh Pardeshi (Mahatma Phule Police Station) and his counterpart from the traffic department Milind Zogde laid a trap in the Waldhuni area. (With inputs from PTI)
24 December,2025 10:36 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA Mumbai court has rejected absconding diamond businessman Mehul Choksi's application seeking to quash the proceedings to declare him a 'Fugitive Economic Offender' (FEO) in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. A similar plea filed by Choksi, citing his arrest in Belgium and extradition proceedings initiated by Indian authorities, had been rejected by the special court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act in November. In the fresh application, Choksi sought dismissal of the Enforcement Directorate's plea to declare him an FEO, arguing that the as per the Companies Act the federal probe agency can not continue its proceedings when the Serious Fraud Investigation Office is investigating the same allegations. But ED, represented by special public prosecutor Kavita Patil, said the prohibition mentioned under section 212 (2) of the Companies Act only concerns offences covered under that specific Act. There is no such bar for proceeding with offences under other Acts, Patil said. Also, as the rejection of the previous plea was not yet challenged before a superior court, that order had become final, she argued. Choksi filed the new application only to delay the proceedings, the prosecutor alleged. Agreeing with the contention, judge A V Gujarathi on Monday rejected Choksi's plea, stating that the SFIO investigation "would not be a stumbling block" for proceeding with the ED's application under Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO) Act. Under the FEO Act, a person can be declared a Fugitive Economic Offender if a warrant has been issued against him for an offence involving an amount of Rs 100 crore or more and he has left the country and refuses to return. Once an accused is declared an FEO, the probe agency can confiscate their property. Mehul Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are the prime accused in the scam, being probed by both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate. They are accused of siphoning off over Rs 13,000 crore from the PNB using Letters of Undertaking and Foreign Letters of Credit by bribing officials at the bank's Brady House branch in Mumbai. While Choksi is facing extradition proceedings, Nirav Modi is lodged in a London jail. 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
23 December,2025 10:48 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIThe Wadala TT Police in Mumbai on Monday arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with a stolen two-wheeler case and recovered the vehicle. The theft occurred between 6 pm on December 18 and 5.30 am on December 19 near Ekveera Ai Mitra Mandal, close to Ghodyacha Tabelya in Vijaynagar, Antop Hill. The complainant, 30-year-old Akash Pappu Singh, reported that his black Honda Activa 5G scooter had been stolen by an unknown person. During the investigation, police teams led by Sub-Inspector Kiran Navale and other officers visited the scene and gathered information. However, the CCTV footage from the area was not available. Based on a tip-off, the police arrested Shubham Ashok Jayswar, a resident of the same locality. The accused reportedly confessed to the theft during interrogation. The stolen scooter was recovered from his possession. Mumbai Police have asked citizens to remain vigilant against vehicle thefts The accused has multiple prior criminal cases, police said. Following investigation, he was taken into custody on Monday at 9.43 pm. The investigation was carried out under the guidance of by senior officers, including Vikram Deshmane, Additional Police Commissioner (Central Region), and other supervisory personnel. The police have assured strict action in the case and advised residents to remain vigilant against vehicle thefts.
23 December,2025 07:40 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerThe Bombay High Court (HC) on Tuesday made it clear to fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya that it will not hear his challenge to the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act unless he submits to Indian jurisdiction, news agency PTI reported. A bench comprising Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad also questioned when the businessman, based in the United Kingdom (UK) since 2016, plans to return to India. Mallya, 70, has filed two petitions in HC— one challenging the order declaring him a Fugitive Economic Offender, and the other questioning the constitutional validity of the 2018 Act, PTI reported. While hearing the twin pleas, the court asked Mallya, who is wanted in India to face trial on fraud and money laundering charges, about his return. The bench made it clear to Mallya’s counsel, Amit Desai, that it will not hear the plea against the Act unless the businessman first submits to the court’s jurisdiction. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), opposed the petitions, arguing that fugitives should not be allowed to challenge the validity of an Act while staying outside the country, PTI reported. He said the FEO Act was enacted to prevent such individuals from abusing the law by remaining abroad and filing petitions through lawyers. Mehta also informed the court that extradition proceedings against Mallya are at an advanced stage. Next hearing in Bombay HC on February 12 The bench noted that it cannot allow both petitions filed by Mallya to proceed simultaneously and asked him to clarify which plea he wishes to pursue and which one to withdraw. Desai argued that Mallya’s financial liability had been largely addressed, with assets worth Rs 14,000 crore attached and liabilities of Rs 6,000 crore recovered by lending banks. The Solicitor General maintained that Mallya was entitled to legal representation even while staying abroad. However, the bench questioned how one could wipe out criminal liability without submitting to the jurisdiction of the court. The court posted the matter for further hearing on February 12, by which date Mallya will have to inform the court which petition he intends to proceed with. Mallya was declared a Fugitive Economic Offender in January 2019 by a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The businessman, accused of defaulting on multiple loans and facing money laundering charges, left India in March 2016. (With PTI inputs)
23 December,2025 07:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOfficers of the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone–III, have made significant seizures between 18 and 22 December 2025, targeting narcotics, gold, semi-precious stones, and undeclared foreign currency. NDPS seizures: A total of 48.048 kg of suspected Hydroponic Weed, valued at approximately Rs. 48.048 crore in the illicit market, was recovered from 7 passengers arriving from Bangkok on various flights. Arrests were made under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. 81 grams of amphetamines, valued at Rs 16.2 lakh, were seized from one passenger arriving from Muscat via Air India Express Flight IX 236 on 18 December. The passengers reportedly attempted to smuggle the contraband by concealing it inside shampoo bottles and tin snack boxes to evade detection. Other seizures: Gold jewellery weighing 283 grams and studded with diamonds, valued at Rs. 35.18 lakh, was recovered from two passengers. Polished semi-precious stones weighing 6,643 grams, valued at Rs. 24.91 lakh, were recovered from one passenger. Foreign currency equivalent to Rs. 45.26 lakh was seized from two passengers departing for Fujairah on IndiGo Flight 6E-1501 dated 22 December 2025. Customs officials said these operations were based on profiling and specific intelligence inputs, highlighting continued vigilance against smuggling activities at Mumbai airport. In a similar incident last week, officers of the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone–3, seized hydroponic weed and gold worth over Rs 11 crore in multiple cases this week, an official press note stated. During the three-day operation, customs officers seized 8.467 kg of hydroponic weed from a passenger arriving from Bangkok. They also recovered 2.270 kg of 24-carat gold dust, along with 230 grams of 24-carat gold jewellery, from different passengers at Mumbai Airport. In one case, based on spot checks and the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) profiling, a Bangladesh national travelling from Male to Dubai via Mumbai was apprehended while allegedly handing over four oval-shaped packets of 24-carat gold dust concealed in wax, weighing 1,460 grams and valued at Rs 1.86 crore, to a staff member of a ground handling agency (BWFS). The passenger was travelling on IndiGo flights 6E-1132 (Tuesday) and 6E-1451 (Wednesday). Both the passenger and the BWFS staff member were arrested under Section 104 of the Customs Act, 1962, customs officers said.
23 December,2025 12:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai 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 IyerADVERTISEMENT
