The Bombay High Court on Monday granted bail to Akashdeep Karaj Singh, an accused in the murder of former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique, making him the first person to receive bail in the high-profile case, reported the PTI. A bench led by Justice Neela Gokhale directed Singh, a resident of Punjab, not to leave Mumbai until the trial in the case is completed. Baba Siddique (66) was shot dead by three assailants outside his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra East on the night of October 12, 2024. Singh, who is 22 years old, was arrested in November 2024. He is the first among the accused to secure bail in the case. In his bail application, Singh claimed that he had been falsely implicated and that the allegations against him were vague and without substance. The accused argued that he has only been charged with being a member of an organised crime syndicate and that no specific role in the murder has been attributed to him. He also told the court that the trial is unlikely to begin in the near future and that continued detention without trial would violate his fundamental rights. Chargesheet filed, 26 arrested so far In January this year, Mumbai Police filed a chargesheet naming Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, as a wanted accused in the case. According to the prosecution, Anmol Bishnoi planned the killing to create fear and establish dominance for the crime syndicate. So far, 26 people have been arrested and booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). All the accused are currently in judicial custody. NIA has arrested gangster Anmol Bishnoi The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had in November last year arrested gangster Anmol Bishnoi, the brother and close aide of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, after he was deported from the United States to India. According to the NIA, Anmol had been absconding since 2022 and was brought back to the country following coordinated action with international authorities. In an official statement, the NIA had said that Anmol is the 19th accused to be arrested in the terror–gangster network allegedly operated by Lawrence Bishnoi and his associates. The agency stated that Anmol had been chargesheeted in March 2023 after investigations established that he had “actively aided designated individual terrorists Goldy Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi in the commission of various acts of terrorism in India between 2020 and 2023.” Anmol used his base in the United States to “run the syndicate’s operations, direct terrorist activities, and coordinate with shooters on the ground” for the Bishnoi gang. The agency further said that he had “provided shelter, funding, and logistical support to the gang’s operatives” and was also involved in “extortion activities in India from foreign soil with the help of other gangsters,” the NIA had earlier stated. (with PTI inputs)
09 February,2026 04:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA case has been registered against a Navi Mumbai resident for allegedly sexually harassing a foreign woman who had come to Kochi to attend the Kochi-Muziris Biennale art event, news agency PTI reported, quoting the Kerala Police on Monday. According to authorities, the case was filed against Sumit Katare following a complaint lodged by a woman from Taiwan, who visited Kochi last month for the Biennale. The complaint was submitted via email after she returned from India. As per the first information report (FIR) registered on February 7, the complainant befriended Katare outside Pepper House in Fort Kochi, a venue of the art event, on January 18, PTI reported. Though Katare invited her to consume alcohol, she refused, the FIR said. The next day, Katare approached the complainant near the Fort Kochi backwater area and accompanied her on a boat trip. During the afternoon boat trip, the accused allegedly sexually harassed her through physical contact, the FIR stated. In her complaint, the woman said that after the boat trip, Katare forced her to travel in an autorickshaw, during which he continued his “sexually intended misbehaviour” at around 5 pm, PTI reported, quoting police. When the woman refused to go with him, he allegedly followed her and continued to harass her, the FIR added. Fort Kochi Police have registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for sexual harassment and stalking. The police said the foreign national has provided the accused’s contact details, and efforts are underway to trace him. They are also trying to contact the woman, as her detailed statement needs to be recorded as part of the investigation. Maharashtra school headmaster held for sexually assaulting Class 7 student Police have arrested the headmaster of a school in Yavatmal district for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old Class 7 student, officers said on Monday. The 47-year-old accused, headmaster of a Zilla Parishad school in Ghatanji taluka, allegedly assaulted the girl on May 1, 2025, and again on February 5 this year, a police officer said, quoting a complaint filed by the child’s father on Saturday. Following the complaint, the accused was arrested on Sunday, February 8, the officer added. The officer also said that the accused lured the girl with fruits and makeup items and sexually assaulted her on both occasions. He allegedly threatened to kill her if she disclosed the offence to anyone. The headmaster has been booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rape and criminal intimidation, and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for penetrative sexual assault, the police added. (With PTI inputs)
09 February,2026 02:15 PM IST | Kochi | mid-day online correspondentDays after the massive Mumbai-Pune Expressway traffic jam, lasting nearly 33 hours and leaving thousands of motorists stranded, the police have booked the tanker driver for driving in rash and negligent manner, officials said. Police have registered an FIR against the driver of a gas tanker that was involved in the accident. The case was registered days after the incident, officials said on Sunday. The driver, identified as Ratan Singh Uday Narayan Singh (44), a resident of Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, has been booked at Khopoli police station in Raigad district, reported the PTI. He has been charged with rash and dangerous driving and with endangering the life and personal safety of others, a police officer said. The tanker, which was carrying highly flammable propylene gas, overturned near the Adoshi tunnel in Raigad district at around 5 pm on February 3. Police said the tanker was allegedly speeding when the driver lost control while driving downhill. The vehicle was travelling from Kochi to Gujarat, officials added. Driver and helper injured Both the driver and his aide were injured in the accident and were admitted to a private hospital in Navi Mumbai. The case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act. Police said further investigation is underway, according to the PTI. Traffic on the Mumbai-bound carriageway of the expressway was finally restored in the early hours of February 5, nearly 33 hours after the accident. Pune industrialist takes helicopter after being stuck in traffic Struck for hours in expressway traffic jam, a Pune-based industrialist Sudhir Mehta took a helicopter to return to the city, reported the PTI. He was reportedly stranded for nearly eight hours on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway due to a massive traffic jam caused by an overturned gas tanker. Traffic on the expressway remained disrupted for more than 30 hours after the accident, which occurred on Tuesday evening. Movement was suspended as a safety measure after the tanker began leaking highly flammable propylene gas. Sudhir Mehta, Chairman of Pinnacle Industries and EKA Mobility, shared his experience in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday. He also posted aerial photographs showing long stretches of vehicles stuck on the expressway, according to the PTI. Commenting on the situation, Mehta said the incident underlined the urgent need for better emergency preparedness on high-speed corridors such as the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
09 February,2026 12:46 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA late-night road accident near Somaiya College in Vidyavihar left a couple critically injured after their scooter was allegedly rammed by a speeding Kia Seltos on Thursday, February 5, night. The husband is on ventilator support, while the wife remains in a critical condition. Police have registered a case following a complaint by the victim’s relative. According to the police, the accident occurred on February 5 at around 11.15 pm near Somaiya College Gate No. 3 on Tansa Pipeline Road, Vidyavihar. The injured have been identified as Dhrumil Premji Patel, 33, who runs a plywood business, and his wife, Minal Patel, 32, a tutor. The couple are residents of Ghatkopar West. Police said the Patels were returning home from their shop in Parel on a scooter when a Kia Seltos coming from the opposite direction allegedly hit their two-wheeler at high speed. The car was reportedly being driven in a rash and negligent manner. Both victims sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Rajawadi Hospital. Due to the severity of their condition, they were later shifted to Zynova Shalby Hospital in Ghatkopar West for further treatment. The complaint was filed by Mahesh Karamsi Patel, 57, Dhrumil’s uncle, who was informed about the accident by a family friend in the early hours of Friday. Car was allegedly being driven by a 17-year-old The Kia Seltos involved in the accident. Pic/Special Arrangement During the investigation, police found that the car was allegedly being driven by a 17-year-old minor, the son of the vehicle’s owner. To confirm his age, police obtained the boy’s Aadhaar card and birth certificate from his father, which showed his date of birth as June 29, 2008. The car owner, aged 43, has been booked for allegedly allowing his minor son to drive despite knowing that he did not possess a valid driving licence. A relative of the Patel family said, “Dhrumil suffered serious head injuries, fractures to his chest ribs, left knee and right wrist. Minal suffered a fracture to her right arm, serious injuries to her right eye and injuries to her private parts. Both vehicles were completely damaged. Dhrumil is on ventilator support, and Minal is in critical condition.” Probe underway The scooter ridden by the injured couple. Pics/Special Arrangement A police officer said, “We have registered a case and initiated further investigation. Statements of witnesses are being recorded, and the condition of the injured couple is being closely monitored.” Speaking to mid-day, DCP Sameer Shaikh said, “An FIR has been registered against the car owner, and the matter is under investigation.”
08 February,2026 10:27 PM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaPolice have registered a case against eight persons for allegedly stealing high-end smartphones worth Rs 31 lakh and embezzling Rs 23.8 lakh from a logistics and supply company in Maharashtra’s Thane district, officials said on Sunday. According to police, the accused illegally entered the company’s premises in the Ambernath area on November 18, 2025, and allegedly stole smartphones valued at Rs 31.18 lakh, reported PTI. They also allegedly misappropriated Rs 23.87 lakh from the delivery hub between March and November last year. To conceal the crime, the accused allegedly destroyed the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) system at the premises, an official from the Ambernath police station said, reported PTI. Based on a complaint, police on Friday registered a case against the eight accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for theft, cheating, criminal breach of trust and causing disappearance of evidence. Mumbai Police recover 5,000 stolen phones in 15-day crackdown Earlier in December 2025, the Mumbai Police recovered over 5,000 mobile phones belonging to Mumbaikars that had been stolen or reported missing but were later reactivated with new SIM cards. Most of these devices were traced to Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and other northern states, pointing to a well-organised interstate syndicate dealing in stolen phones. About 20 days ago, using the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR)—a centralised database of mobile equipment identifiers operated by the Department of Telecommunications—the police learnt that more than 25,000 stolen or missing mobile phones from Mumbai had recently been reactivated with new SIM cards. As part of Police Commissioner Deven Bharti’s mission to crack this network, nearly 100 to 150 police personnel were deployed outside Mumbai to track and retrieve the phones. The recovery has exposed how the syndicate funnelled high-end stolen phones out of Mumbai and resold them in rural markets for as little as Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000. How it started Over a period of time, the police received several complaints of mobile phones going missing or being stolen across the city. In response, they registered these cases on the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal, where the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of missing devices are listed. The IMEI is a unique 15-digit code used to identify individual mobile phones on cellular networks. Once a stolen or missing device is reactivated with a new SIM card, the Mumbai Police receive an automated alert. The system also provides details such as the name of the SIM card holder and their registered address. (With PTI inputs)
08 February,2026 12:29 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentMumbai 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 correspondentADVERTISEMENT
