The police on Monday opposed the bail plea of former Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable Chetan Singh Chaudhary, who is accused of shooting dead his senior colleague and three passengers on a moving train in July 2023, reported the PTI. The prosecution told the court that the case is extremely serious and could attract the death penalty, making bail inappropriate at this stage. In a written response filed by Additional Public Prosecutor Sudhir Sapkale, the police said that key witnesses were currently being examined and that there was already substantial evidence on record against Chaudhary. Granting bail now, they argued, would seriously harm the prosecution’s case, according to the PTI. Chaudhary is accused of killing Assistant Sub-Inspector Tika Ram Meena and three passengers on board the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast Express near Palghar on July 31, 2023. In his bail application, filed through advocates Amit Mishra and Pankaj Ghildiyal, Chaudhary claimed he was suffering from "white matter disease", a condition that affects the brain’s white matter, as per the PTI. His lawyers argued he experiences severe mental episodes, delusions and confusion, and therefore had no awareness of his actions at the time of the incident. The prosecution, however, dismissed his health claims, saying they were not convincing and could not be considered at this stage. Meanwhile, the wife of one of the victims sought the court’s permission to be heard during the bail hearing. Her intervention plea, filed through advocates Karim Pathan and Fazlurrahman Shaikh, said there was direct evidence against Chaudhary, including eyewitness accounts and recovery of the weapon and cartridges. She argued that granting bail would allow the accused to tamper with evidence, the news agency reported. On Monday, an RPF constable who helped arrest Chaudhary testified in court. He told the judge that when he first saw Chaudhary walking on the tracks between Mira Road and Dahisar, the accused threatened to shoot him, reported the PTI. The witness said he confronted Chaudhary, asking why he had left the train, but received no reply. Instead, Chaudhary "stared at me and said, ‘Don’t come in my way or follow me, otherwise I will shoot you.’" Fearing for his life, the constable stepped aside but continued to follow him from a distance. Chaudhary was later caught on a foot-over bridge at Mira Road station, as per the PTI. (with PTI inputs)
08 December,2025 09:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Police on Monday said that it has launched probe into the complaint received against threat to actor and politician Pawan Singh allegedly by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Police officials on Monday evening confirmed that an official written complaint was received by the police and the matter was being probed. "An application is received in the police station and appropriate action will be taken after inquiry," said a senior police officer. According to sources, an official police complaint was filed by Pawan Singh's manager at Oshiwara Police station in suburban Mumbai. Bhojpuri star Pawan Singh's manager approached the Mumbai Police after allegedly receiving extortion and threat calls from an individual claiming to be linked to the Bishnoi gang. The complaint states that the caller reportedly demanded money and warned Singh not to share the stage with Salman Khan at the Bigg Boss 19 Grand Finale. According to the complaint, the threats were made through multiple phone numbers and a member of Singh’s team also received similar messages. The threats reportedly surfaced shortly after Singh announced on Instagram that he would be performing with Salman Khan on the show. Police officials said that they were currently working to identify the source of the threat calls. Multiple teams have been formed to verify the threats to Singh. The controversy erupted just a day after Pawan Singh announced that he would be sharing the stage with Salman Khan for the Bigg Boss 19 finale on social media. He took to his Instagram handle and wrote, "Bhaijaan ke saath Bigg Boss 19 ke Grand Finale mein humare saath judenge Powerstar Pawan Singh." On the show, the Bhojpuri singer performed alongside Salman Khan and former contestant Neelam Giri. The unknown individuals reportedly demanded money from Pawan Singh and even sent threats using multiple phone numbers, with connections traced from Bihar to Mumbai. Members of Singh's team and those managing his work also received similar threatening messages. Pawan Singh reportedly received phone calls, warning him not to share the stage with Bollywood actor Salman. The caller allegedly threatened "serious consequences" if Pawan Singh proceeded with his scheduled performance.
08 December,2025 06:37 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentPolice have registered a case against a couple and another person for allegedly cheating a jeweller in Maharashtra's Thane district of Rs 70 lakh, officials said on Monday, reported news agency PTI. The accused gained the trust of the jeweller, from Golawli in Dombivli, by making timely payments on earlier purchases. However, in October, they bought gold ornaments, collectively valued at nearly Rs 70 lakh, on three occasions, an official from Manpada police station said, reported PTI. The accused promised to clear the dues later, but did not make the payment. Upon further insistence, they abused and threatened the jeweller, the police said, reported PTI. Following the jeweller's complaint, the police on December 5 registered a case against the three accused under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 318(4) (cheating), 314 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 352 (intentional insult), 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (common intention), the official said. BEST conductor duped of Rs 4.5 lakh with promise of CRPF job In another case, a 36-year-old conductor with the civic-run BEST bus service was allegedly cheated of Rs 4.5 lakh by three men who promised to get him a job with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), police said on Saturday, reported PTI. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Sarfaraz Salmani, Nilesh Sarode and Yogesh Kumar Shukla on Friday on a complaint filed by Mahesh Devkar, a resident of Navi Mumbai, said an official of Chunabhatti police station, reported PTI. No arrest has been made in the case yet. In 2022, a friend introduced him to Sarode who claimed to have contacts that could help him secure a government job, Devkar said in the complaint, reported PTI. Soon, he was told that there vacancies of havildar's post in CRPF, he said. Sarode introduced him to Salmani who claimed he handled government job processing and allegedly demanded Rs 1 lakh as "fee", reported PTI. A few days later, Salmani called Devkar to Delhi for a medical examination at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where he was introduced to Yogesh Kumar, reported PTI. The trio then allegedly handed over a fake CRPF appointment letter to him and demanded another Rs 3 lakh. Under pressure, Devkar paid another Rs 3.5 lakh in instalments. He was also issued a bogus training letter, reported PTI. But when he stopped receiving updates, he tried contacting the accused who did not respond. When he demanded a refund, he was given a cheque of Rs 50,000 which bounced. Devkar then found out that all the documents, including appointment and training letters, were fake, and lodged a police complaint, reported PTI. An FIR was registered against Salmani, Nilesh Sarode and Yogesh Kumar Shukla for cheating and forgery, and further investigation was underway, the official added. (With inputs from PTI)
08 December,2025 11:17 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentPolice have arrested a 40-year-old constable for allegedly raping a woman in Maharashtra's Palghar district, officials said on Monday, reported news agency PTI. The alleged incident occurred last week at the Kasa police station, a senior official from Palghar rural police said. The woman had gone there to record her statement in connection with a case. The constable allegedly raped her in the premises, he said, reported PTI. Based on the woman's complaint, the police registered a case against the constable on charges of rape and arrested him on Sunday, the official said, reported PTI. The Kasa police station in-charge has been transferred, he added. Liquor worth Rs 10.17 lakh seized in Palghar; one held In another case, the police have seized liquor worth Rs 10.17 lakh transported illegally from Daman and arrested one person in Maharashtra's Palghar district, an official said on Friday, reported PTI. Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Manor police station intercepted a tempo on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway on Wednesday, Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh said, reported PTI. The team found Daman-manufactured liquor worth Rs 10.17 lakh, banned in Maharashtra, he said. "A detailed inquiry revealed that the consignment had been loaded by one Amit Kumar Shukla Pandit, Gorab Gosale Monu, and Suraj Chaubey, whose full details are yet to be confirmed. The accused had instructed the driver, Kishore Bhika Baviskar, to deliver the goods to Dhule," he said, reported PTI. A case has been registered at Manor police station under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, and the driver has been arrested, while efforts are underway to trace the remaining accused, the official said. Nigerian national held with Rs 51 lakh drugs in Palghar Meanwhile, the police have seized the banned mephedrone drug valued at Rs 51 lakh from a Nigerian national in Maharashtra's Palghar district, officials said on Thursday, reported PTI. Based on a tip-off, the police conducted a raid on Tuesday at Pragati Nagar in the Nalasopara area. They apprehended Uba alias Noso Uba Chinoso Wisdom (30), a Nigerian national residing in the locality, and seized 255 gm of mephedrone (MD) valued at Rs 51,10,000 from his possession, a police release said, reported PTI. The accused was arrested and booked under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the police added. (With inputs from PTI)
08 December,2025 11:07 AM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentA Thane court has acquitted 10 individuals accused in a 19-year-old case of rioting and attempt to murder police personnel during a protest, citing vague and insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution, reported news agency PTI. Additional Sessions Judge, Kalyan, P R Ashturkar, in the judgment on December 1, said the prosecution could not prove any of the charges levelled against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt, reported PTI. A copy of the order was made available on Monday. According to the prosecution, the protest took place at Ulhasnagar in Maharashtra's Thane district on November 30, 2006, following an "unpleasant" incident at Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh on November 28 that year, reported PTI. A large number of people gathered and some of them (accused) created a ruckus, caused damage to private and government properties and attacked police personnel and other persons. The police later registered a case against 14 persons under various IPC sections, including attempt to murder, rioting and unlawful assembly, and provisions of the Bombay Police Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The case against four of the accused was abated due to their death during the pendency of the trial. The judge in the order said, "It can be seen that there is no evidence of any independent witness. As no identification parade was conducted, there is absolutely nothing on record as to how the present accused were identified, that too from the mob of 2000 to 2500 persons," reported PTI. "The evidence adduced by the prosecution is very general and vague. It is not sufficient enough to bring home the guilt of the accused persons, that too beyond a reasonable doubt," the Thane court said, reported PTI. The Thane court also noted that two key witnesses "resiled" from their previous statements and did not support the prosecution's case, reported PTI. Those acquitted in the case are Kishor Tarachand Pawar (autorickshaw driver), Milind Damodar Nikam, Nitin Rohidas Bhalerao (both singers), Pankaj Sitaram Baviskar, Sanjay Dhudku Jadhav (businessmen), Parmeshwar Dilip Baviskar, Sanjay Ratan Nikam (labourers), Vijay Bharat Tambe (painter), Sunil Pralhad Sakpale (tailor), Gautam Ramdas Dhivre, who worked in a private company, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
08 December,2025 10:54 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentMalvani Police in Mumbai have registered a first information report (FIR) against two individuals for allegedly posting derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad and using abusive language targeting the Muslim community on Instagram. According to police sources, the complaint was filed a few days ago by social activist Muhammad Jameel Merchant, who alleged that the accused, along with more than a dozen other social media accounts, were circulating provocative content and attempting to incite communal tension online. Merchant stated that while browsing Instagram, he came across reels and posts allegedly uploaded by the accounts containing remarks insulting Prophet Muhammad, the Muslim community, and the Supreme Court. He claimed the posts were inflammatory and aimed at provoking religious sentiments. "Based on the complaint, Malvani Police have registered an FIR under sections 196, 352, and 66(A) of BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita)," said an officer from Malvani Police Station. Police are investigating the online networks linked to the two accounts, with further action expected in the coming days. Officers have also said more accounts allegedly involved in circulating hate content are under scrutiny. Further investigation is underway.
07 December,2025 08:29 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanPolice have arrested a man after seizing drugs valued at Rs 6.23 lakh from his possession in Maharashtra's Palghar district, officials said on Sunday, reported news agency PTI. Based on intelligence inputs, the police conducted a raid at Dhaniv Bagh in the Nalasopara area on December 4 and apprehended the man, reported PTI. During a search, they recovered brown sugar valued at Rs 6 lakh and Nitrazepam (a psychotropic drug) tablets costing Rs 23,628 from his possession, a police release said. The accused, identified as Salim Bagion alias Sardar Chacha (40), was arrested and booked under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the release said, reported PTI. The accused is a habitual offender. He has 12 previous cases registered against him, including three under the NDPS Act, the police said. Charas brought from J&K seized in Thane, one arrested In another case, a man was arrested on Saturday in Mumbra area here with charas valued at Rs 1.10 crore, police said, reported PTI. As per the preliminary investigation, accused Mohammad Haroon Hasrat Ali Siddiqui (42), a local resident, had procured the narcotic drug from Jammu & Kashmir, said a police official, reported PTI. Haroon was spotted standing suspiciously near Airoli-Mumbra Bridge by a police patrolling team. He tried to run but was nabbed after a short chase, and 2.2 kg of charas, a cannabis product, was seized from his possession, said senior inspector Anil Shinde of Mumbra police station, reported PTI. "The accused sold drugs in Thane area. A case has already been registered against him in Ajmer, Rajasthan. Investigation is being carried out about his connection with Jammu and Kashmir," the inspector said, reported PTI. Haroon was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and a court remanded him in police custody till December 8, PI Shinde said. Nigerian national held with Cocaine worth Rs 72 lakh in Mumbai Meanwhile, a 27-year-old man from Nigeria was arrested after cocaine worth Rs 72 lakh was seized from his possession in Mumbai, a police official said on Friday, reported PTI. The accused, Munachi Agwu alias Oliver Agwu, was found in possession of the highly addictive drug on Thursday night in suburban Malwani and subsequently placed under arrest, he said, reported PTI. According to the Malwani police station official, cops received a tip-off that a man was likely to come to a spot in the western suburb to deliver drug. A trap was laid and the man, later identified as Nigerian national Agwu, was caught with 180 gram of cocaine worth Rs 72 lakh, he stated, reported PTI. The accused was booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act) and further investigation was underway, the official added. (With inputs from PTI)
07 December,2025 04:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA Thane court has sentenced a man to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2021, which led to her pregnancy, observing that the crime was "heinous" and must be dealt with stringently, reported news agency pTI. Additional Sessions Judge-3, DS Deshmukh, in the judgment on Friday, said the act of the 34-year-old accused, who is married and also has a son, has to be viewed seriously and he is not entitled to leniency. The court convicted the accused, Sahid Mohammad Ramzan Hasmi, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act section 5 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) and also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him, reported PTI. A copy of the order was received on Sunday. Special Public Prosecutor Sanjay Londge told the court that the victim had lodged a complaint alleging that in May 2021, the accused, who resided in her neighbourhood in the Kashimira area here, sexually assaulted her after offering to drop her home and later calling her to his house, reported PTI. The accused also threatened to kill her if she informed anyone about the offence. The victim suffered severe stomach pain in July 2021, and a subsequent medical examination in August revealed she was pregnant. She initially informed about the incident to another man. Later, after her mother took her into confidence, she told her about the offence committed by the accused. After hearing both sides, the judge said the act done by the accused is "heinous". The prosecution has proved that the accused had committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault on the victim twice, due to which she became pregnant, and also threatened her, the Thane court observed, reported PTI. The judge rejected the defence's claim that the case was false due to a monetary dispute. In view of the oral evidence of the victim and her mother and also clear documentary evidence- the DNA report - on record, this defence taken by the accused is not acceptable, he said. "It is pertinent to note here that for such a lame reason, nobody can use his minor child to implicate the person in a false case by levelling such type of allegations," the Thane court noted, reported PTI. Regarding the severity of the crime and sentencing, the judge said, "The act of sexual assault on the child is to be viewed seriously and such offences are to be dealt with stringent manner." In this case, the accused, being a married person and having a small son, "committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault on the victim and impregnated her," the court said, reported PTI. "The act of the accused is heinous. It has to be viewed seriously. Considering the submissions of both sides and the nature of offence, the accused is not entitled for leniency," it said, reported PTI. The court also directed that the fine amount, if recovered, be given to the victim. The case has been recommended to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) for compensation to the victim. (With inputs from PTI)
07 December,2025 01:15 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentPolice have arrested a 20-year-old man from Maharashtra's Thane city for allegedly travelling on a fake railway pass generated through the UTS mobile ticketing app, officials said on Sunday, reported news agency PTI. The man was travelling on a Dadar-Ambernath fast AC local train on Friday when the travelling ticket inspector asked him to show his ticket. The accused showed a digital railway pass on his mobile phone's WhatsApp and it was later found to be fake, a Government Railway Police (GRP) official said, reported PTI. He was offloaded at Thane station and brought to the GRP police station for further inquiry. During questioning, the man claimed that a friend forwarded the fake pass to him on WhatsApp, the official said, reported PTI. The man was later arrested and booked on charges of cheating and forgery, the police added. Senior citizen duped of Rs 1.25 cr by cyber criminals posing as Data Protection Board official, cops In another case, a 64-year-old businessman from Naupada in Thane was cheated of Rs 1.25 crore in a cyber fraud involving callers impersonating Data Protection Board of India and Nashik police personnel, an official said on Saturday, reported PTI. The complainant was cheated through calls he received between November 11 and December 3, the Naupada police station official added. "He got a call from a man who identified himself as Rajesh Kumar Chaudhary of Data Protection Board of India based in Mumbai's Khar area. He told the victim that a SIM card in his name was illegally issued in Nashik and used for threatening people. He was told that a case had been registered at Panchavati police station," the official said, reported PTI. "The victim then got calls from cyber criminals posing as Nashik police personnel. He was told that a bank account in Nashik was opened using his Aadhaar card, which was being used for large-scale illegal money transactions and money laundering, resulting in a case under the National Security Act," the official added, reported PTI. The fraudsters threatened and forced him to transfer Rs 1,25,50,280 into multiple accounts, the official said. The Data Protection Board of India is a tribunal established under the DPDP Act 2023 to enforce privacy laws, handle data breach complaints, adjudicative violations and impose penalties on companies misusing personal data. It was formally established in November this year, reported PTI. A case was registered on Friday under Sections 318(4) (cheating) and 319(2) (cheating by personation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, he said. Efforts are on to nab the accused by tracking digital footprints, banking transactions and call records, the official added. (With inputs from PTI)
07 December,2025 12:49 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentAn Inter-state gang operating out of Bhuj in Gujarat has been busted for running a sophisticated “money-doubling” scam across Mumbai, where victims were lured into handing over real cash and were instead given bundles of fake currency disguised with real notes popularly referred to as “Bachchon ka Bank” notes. Police have so far registered three separate cases at Kalachowki, Sion and Matunga police stations, all with a strikingly similar modus operandi. While an arrest has been made in the Kalachowki case, investigations are ongoing in the other two cases, with no arrests made so far in the Matunga case, police said. The ‘public place trust trap’ According to police, the gang deliberately avoids online transactions and cyber trails, insisting on face-to-face cash handovers at busy public spaces such as railway station areas, petrol pumps and hotels to build trust in victims and create a sense of safety. Victims were promised that their money would be “doubled” or increased manifold within minutes. To make the deception believable, the accused would hand over thick bundles of currency, with genuine Rs 500 notes placed only on the top and bottom, and the middle filled with clearly fake notes resembling children’s play bank currency. “The speed of the exchange and psychological pressure is the real weapon. Before the victim realises, the accused vanish,” a police officer said. Arrest in Kalachowki case In the Kalachowki case, police laid a trap near Cotton Green-Reay Road area on June 28 and arrested Ankit Dinanath Parasar, 28, who is believed to be a key carrier for the gang. He was found in possession of five bundles of counterfeit Rs 500 notes with a total face value of fake currency of Rs 25 lakh and a mobile phone allegedly used to coordinate the operation. Police seized 5000 counterfeit Rs 500 notes, with only 10 genuine notes used as cover to mislead the victim. During interrogation, the accused allegedly named his associates as Kabir, Nawab and Ranjit Bera. Victims lost at least Rs 5.5 lakh Police said the total confirmed loss to victims across the three cases stands at Rs 5.5 lakh so far. In the Sion case, a Pune-based woman was cheated of Rs 5 lakh after being promised a higher return. In the Matunga case, a male victim lost Rs 50,000 in a similar exchange scam. Based on these cases, The police estimate that over 6100 fake Rs 500 notes were circulated as part of the racket. Bhuj link under scanner Police, based on the ongoing investigation, believe the gang is operating from Bhuj, Gujarat, with Mumbai being used as the primary execution location. Police are now analysing call records and financial trails to identify the full network. Another accused, Sanjay Chawariya, has been named in the Matunga case, where the investigation is still in progress. Along with Chawariya, there are two more accused involved, including a woman but they are yet to be arrested. Chawariya meanwhile has been sent notice to cooperate with the investigation, he is allegedly from Delhi but based in Mumbai. “In this type of fraud, citizens are made to believe that they will get an instant loan but they should be vary about the fact that there is no interest rate, no documentation, or anything except for verbal promises. Nobody will provide such money except for fraudsters,” said Rajendra Pawar, senior police inspector of Matunga police station. Modus Operandi >> Gang allegedly based in Bhuj, Gujarat>> Victims lured with money-doubling promises>> Meetings fixed at public places in Mumbai>> Bundles had real Rs 500 notes on top and bottom, fake “Bachchon Ka Bank” notes inside>> Quick handover + pressure tactics used>> Cases registered at Kalachowki, Sion and Matunga Do>> Verify loan sources before transferring money.>> Insist on official documents and receipts>> Use bank-to-bank transfers, not cash>> Report suspicious offers to the police immediately Don’t>> Don’t trust “double your money” schemes.>> Don’t carry large cash to unknown meetings.>> Don’t agree to deals made only on WhatsApp/phone calls.>> Don’t accept bundles without full verification
07 December,2025 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerThe Charkop police have booked a 28-year-old woman for cyber-harassing her live-in partner, his daughter, and another woman employee of the firm in which she is a partner with him. The woman, a partner in a film production house with the man, whom she was living with, allegedly sent obscene messages and circulated morphed images of the man’s first wife’s 16-year-old daughter as well as a 28-year-old pregnant woman employed at their office. The police said that the man lived separately from his wife, and added that during the live-in relationship, the accused reportedly had two children from her partner. Trouble erupted when a married woman employed in the same office became pregnant, and the accused suspected that her live-in partner was responsible, the police added. To defame the employee, the accused allegedly created and shared a morphed image on social media, showing a baby in the woman’s lap and claiming it was fathered by her partner. The accused is also said to have sent obscene messages to the partner’s daughter. Following complaints from both victims, the Charkop police have registered two separate FIRs against the accused woman, a Charkop resident. An officer stated that two FIRs have been registered including one POCSO against the accused woman.
07 December,2025 07:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanADVERTISEMENT
