Mumbai Police have busted an inter-state racket involved in printing and distributing fake postal stamps of the Indian Postal Department and arrested five people after their links emerged in Mumbai, Bihar, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, officials said. Police seized counterfeit stamps worth Rs 27.84 lakh during the operation, they said. The Mata Ramabai Ambedkar (MRA) Marg police had registered a case on September 12, 2025, following a complaint by Ashutosh Jamadarsinh Kumar (42), a Postal Inspector posted at the Mumbai GPO. During a communication with the Mumbai GPO and technical analysis, police received information that fake stamps were being sent from Bihar to several states across the country, police said. Acting on the tip-off, police first arrested Rakesh Ramdhani Bind (42) from Sion, Mumbai, on September 19, 2025. Further investigation led to the arrest of Shamshuddin Ahmed Md. Irfan Ghafar (32) and Shahid Ahmed Raza (43) from Samastipur, Bihar, on October 16, 2025. Police said bank transactions worth Rs 7 to Rs 8 crore were traced through the accounts of the Bihar-based accused. The probe later revealed that the main accused were operating from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. To avoid arrest, they had changed their mobile phones and shifted houses. A police team camped in Delhi for 14 days and carried out surveillance before arresting Mohammad Shahabuddin Sultan Sheikh (27) from Vinod Nagar, Delhi, and Virender Sahdev Prasad (49) from Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, on February 8 this year. Large quantity of fake stamps seized During the raids, police seized the following counterfeit stamps 23,100 stamps of Rs 20 featuring Mother Teresa, 1,25,000 stamps of Rs 10 bearing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, 70,000 stamps of Rs 5 with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, 20,000 stamps of Rs 5 featuring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, 595 stamps of Rs 200 and 32 stamps of Rs 100 with the Ashoka Pillar, 10,000 stamps of Rs 50 featuring Rabindranath Tagore. The police said that the accused sent the forged stamps through courier services to different states, causing financial loss to the government. More accused suspected Based on information gathered during questioning, police believe more people may be involved in the racket. Some suspects are currently absconding, and efforts are being made to trace and arrest them.
11 February,2026 09:04 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that Mumbai Police have dealt strongly in the past with those who threaten Bollywood celebrities and it is capable to hunt down those threatening actors. CM Fadnavis said that the state will not allow any gang to establish itself in Mumbai. He was answering to reporters questions at the launch of a unique project called the ‘Melody Road’, with the first 500-metre stretch completed in the initial phase in Mumbai. Fadnavis was referring to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang whose name has been suspected in multiple recent threats to Bollywood actors. "Those who have attempted or threatened the actors in the past have been dealt with strongly by the Mumbai Police and it will hunt down those who are threatening the actors lately. We will not allow any gangs to establish themselves in Mumbai," CM Fadnavis said. He stressed that threats against public figures is to be taken seriously and strict action will follow against those behind the threats. Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio and oversees Mumbai’s policing, emphasised that freedom of speech does not include threatening others. Threats to bollywood personalities In recent weeks, Bollywood celebrities have been threatened with either social media messages or firing incidents. Filmmaker Rohit Shetty's security was beefed up following a firing incident at his Juhu home. Several rounds were fired at his home while Shetty was present inside his residence. The incident cam after Bollywood star Salman Khan was targeted with a similar incident. Shots were fired at the house of the actor in Bandra's Bandstand. Mumbai Police had arrested shooters connected with the Bishnoi gang later. Recent reports also suggest that Ranveer Singh received a threatening WhatsApp voice message demanding large sums of money and suggesting harm if the demand was not met. However there was no official confirmation on the matter. Sources said that the police have increased security outside his residence and began investigations, including tracking the source of the message. Baba Siddique's murder Former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique who was close to several Bollywood actors including Salman Khan was shot dead outside his son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Bandra east by three assailants on the night of October 12, 2024. Following the killing of the NCP leader, Bishnoi gang had taken the responsibility of the murder. Mumbai Police had made several arrests in the case and the Special Court under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) on Tuesday framed charges against 27 accused in the Baba Siddique murder case. The charges have been brought under provisions of the MCOCA, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bombay Police Act, and Arms Act.
11 February,2026 03:51 PM IST | Mumbai | Asif RizviThe Dindoshi police have busted a large-scale fake government document racket allegedly operated by a 21-year-old who carried forward the illegal trade once run by his late father. Sujal Dayal was arrested after the police recovered hundreds of forged ration cards, fake MMRDA housing allotment letters, and bogus government survey receipts related to collector land from his possession. The Dindoshi police Anti-Terrorism Cell team received specific information about Sujal Dayal’s involvement in preparing and selling forged government documents. The team detained him in Malad East over the weekend, and a personal search led to the recovery of three fake ration cards, two forged MMRDA allotment letters, and a blank survey receipt used for hutment regularisation. Illustrations/Uday Mohite Acting on a tip-off, a team led by Additional Commissioner Shashikumar Meena and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mahesh Chimate was formed. The operation was supervised by Senior Inspector Mahendra Shinde and Inspector Sanjay Pawar. The team—comprising Assistant Inspector Shiv Bhosle, Sub-inspector Nitin Savne, Assistant Sub-inspector Mubarak Mulani, Head Constables Sachin Kamble and Pradeep More, and Constables Navnath Shinde, Gyaneshwar Kale, Shailendra Bhandar, and Suhan Koli — detained Sujal at Ranisati Marg in Malad East over the weekend. During a personal search, police recovered fake ration cards, MMRDA allotment letters, and a blank survey receipt. A special team subsequently raided Sujal’s home in Virar West, where several fake government documents were seized. Sujal was arrested and produced before a court for remand. Father ran similar racket During interrogation, Sujal disclosed that his father Shivaji Dayal had been running the same illegal operation for years before he passed away last year. From a young age, Sujal had watched his father prepare forged documents for customers. After his father’s death and with his mother suffering from prolonged illness, Sujal claimed he had no financial support and continued the racket to survive. A special team raided Sujal’s Agarwal Paradise residence in Virar West and found a room converted into a fake document manufacturing unit, equipped with a printing machine, a computer, old government records, and official stamps. The police seized 443 forged ration cards A police source revealed that Sujal’s father earlier lived in the Malwani-Mahakali area before shifting to Virar. He worked as an agent linked to the rationing office in Goregaon and was considered a “master” in preparing fake ration cards. Most of the seized ration cards carry Malwani addresses, while the rest bear Vasai, Nalasopara, and Palghar addresses, officers said. The police noted that the handwriting on older cards belonged to the father, while newer cards were written by Sujal. Used for illegal activities Sujal revealed that he would immerse ordinary paper in a tea brew, giving it a brownish shade similar to official ration card pages. He would then cut the paper to size, stamps were affixed, and names of cardholders and family members were handwritten in Marathi The forged cards were used to illegally avail benefits under government schemes, including income certificates, medical benefits for yellow and orange card holders, electricity meter connections, and bail documentation for accused persons. PAPs conned using letters The police also seized fake MMRDA Project-Affected People (PAP) housing allotment letters related to road widening, road cutting, and shifting projects, along with a blank survey receipt used to falsely claim the legality of hutments on government land. Foreign angle under probe The accused was arrested after police received a tip-off. REPRESENTATION PIC/ISTOCK Police are currently verifying the names and addresses mentioned on the seized ration cards, and whether foreign nationals, particularly Bangladeshi or Pakistani citizens, may have used these to obtain Indian identity and settle illegally. Insider help received Sujal revealed the names of several agents, based on which the police arrested another accused from Chembur, identified as Rakesh Bhagat Singh, 43, who was working as a peon at a rationing office in Chembur. His duties included cleaning the office and disposing of cancelled ration cards. Bigger racket suspected Police believe this is part of a well-organised and long-running racket involving multiple government departments. Letters will be sent to all departments concerned to gather information, and strict action will be taken against any government employee involved. “More arrests are likely in the coming days,” said Senior Police Inspector Mahendra Shinde from Dindoshi police station.
11 February,2026 03:25 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanA 30-Year-old Malvani resident was allegedly stabbed to death, dismembered, and dumped into a nullah by his wife’s lover, police said on Monday. The victim, Ashok Harilal Gaud, a carpenter from Malad West, was killed by Wahid Ali Mohammed Israil Shaikh, alias Mitthu, a Ghatkopar resident. Police said the accused murdered Gaud inside a Malvani-based factory, cut the body into three pieces, packed them in a gunny bag, and disposed of them in a nullah connected to the sea. Investigations revealed that the accused had been having an affair with Gaud’s wife, Pratibha, for the past three years. The two came in contact through Gaud, as the men were friends and had earlier worked together in the garment business. Frequent visits to Gaud’s home allegedly led to the relationship. A police officer said, “Gaud learnt about the affair last month and confronted the accused, warning him to stay away. The couple has three children.” Around 10 days ago, the accused allegedly lured Gaud to his workplace in Malvani and stabbed him multiple times before slitting his throat. Pratibha was aware of the murder but did not inform anyone; instead, she went to the Malvani police station and filed a missing persons complaint for her husband on February 4. On Monday, February 9, the gunny bag washed ashore at Juhu beach, where a morning walker alerted police after spotting a human hand. Santacruz police recovered the mutilated body and sent it for post-mortem at Cooper Hospital. The body was identified through missing persons records, confirming Gaud had been missing since January 29. The accused was detained and later confessed to the murder, claiming he wanted to marry Pratibha. She has also been detained for questioning.
11 February,2026 10:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaA 21-year-old woman died in Navi Mumbai after allegedly receiving injections from a ward boy who posed as a doctor, police said on Monday. The incident occurred on February 5 in Vashi area of Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, and the accused was arrested the following day, officials said. According to the police, Prachiti Bhikuram Bhuvad’s family contacted Sandesh Yashwant Pashte, who introduced himself as a doctor, to treat her irregular periods. He visited the family’s home in Sector 11 and claimed she was suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Pashte allegedly charged the family Rs 15,000 for a course of five injections, stating that he would administer them personally, reported the PTI. On February 5, Pashte gave her two injections. The woman then fell unconscious, causing panic. Pashte reportedly instructed her father to discard a bag containing used syringes and medical waste in the rubbish. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead two hours later, according to the PTI. When questioned by the family, Pashte admitted that he was actually a ward boy at a private nursing home in Andheri, Mumbai. Following the complaint, he was arrested on February 6 and booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, cheating by personation, and other offences, the news agency reported. Girl dies months after suspected acid ingestion; probe underway Meanwhile, a 16-year-old girl from Geeta Colony in Delhi has died after allegedly consuming acid. According to her father, Nand Kishore, the incident occurred on October 29, 2025, and she died while being taken to the hospital for treatment. He claimed that a relative, his cousin's brother-in-law, who lives on the floor below, had given the acid to her, according to the ANI. "My daughter was made to drink acid on October 29. My cousin's brother-in-law had given it to her. He lives on the floor below mine. She would have turned 16 on 8 March. The police say they are investigating. She died while I was taking her to the hospital," he told ANI. However, the Shahdara police clarified that a medico-legal case was filed at Maulana Azad Hospital on October 29 2025, where the record only mentioned "acid ingestion", and no history of assault was reported. "At that time, the girl and her mother stated that she had ingested the acid voluntarily following an argument with her husband, Bhura alias Subhash, a resident of Thiryasalahpur village in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh." Police said that later, on January 29, the victim's mother lodged a complaint at Geeta Colony Police Station, alleging that her daughter had been sexually assaulted by Bhura and forced to consume acid on 29 October 2025. Based on this complaint, a case was registered under Sections 65 and 351(2) of the BNS and Section 6 of the POCSO Act. "The victim reportedly gave contradictory statements before the magistrate regarding the acid ingestion," police said. Following the incident, the girl was not admitted to any hospital and stayed at her parents' home. On February 7, 2026, her father brought her to the emergency department of LNJP Hospital, where she was declared dead. An autopsy was conducted the following day, on February 8, police said. (with PTI and ANI inputs)
10 February,2026 08:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThane city police recorded 11,965 crime cases in 2025, maintaining an overall detection rate of 78.8 per cent, the same as the previous year, official statistics showed, according to news agency PTI. Kidnapping remained a major concern, with 1,291 cases reported. The police solved 1,173 of them (90.9 per cent), including 876 involving minor girls, of whom 782 were traced, according to the 2025 crime report. Sexual offences also saw strong detection rates, PTI reported. Out of 813 molestation cases, nearly 98 per cent were solved, with a slightly higher success rate in cases involving minors. Among 516 registered rape cases, including 302 involving minors, all were detected. Violent crimes showed similarly high resolution. Of 73 murder cases, 71 were solved (97 per cent), while 161 of 162 attempted murder cases (99 per cent) were detected. Property-related crimes proved more challenging. Of 984 cheating cases, only 656 (66.7 per cent) were solved, PTI reported. Detection was lower for house-breaking thefts (51 per cent) and chain snatching (61.7 per cent). Police impersonation cases had the lowest success, with just two of six (33 per cent) solved. Meanwhile, authorities cracked 83 of 86 extortion cases (96.5 per cent) and registered 49 cases under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act and 18 under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Thane man duped of Rs 82 lakh in share investment scam A 62-year-old man from Thane city allegedly lost Rs 82.13 lakh in an investment fraud after being promised high returns, police said on Tuesday. The senior citizen came across a Facebook advertisement on September 26, 2025, promising high returns on share market investments. Clicking the ad redirected him to a WhatsApp group named after a leading finance and investment company. He was asked to download a trading app and persuaded to make investments. Between January 10 and 30 this year, he transferred Rs 82.13 lakh to multiple bank accounts and was shown “profits” totaling Rs 1.51 crore, according to Kasarvadavali Police officers. However, when he requested withdrawal of the profits on February 2, his requests were repeatedly rejected, and the fraudsters demanded an additional Rs 42.46 lakh to process the payment. The man then contacted the finance company, which confirmed it had no connection with the WhatsApp group or the trading app, the officer said. (With PTI inputs)
10 February,2026 06:38 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA 19-year-old woman was shot dead in the Govandi area of Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon, police said, adding that a probe has been launched and the suspect was identified. The incident occurred around 12 noon and falls under the jurisdiction of the Shivaji Nagar police station, officials said. According to the police, the woman sustained a bullet injury and died on the spot. The shooting caused panic in the locality, following which local residents alerted the authorities. Police teams immediately rushed to the scene and carried out a spot panchnama. Senior officers also visited the area to assess the situation and gather preliminary information. Accused identified, say cops Deputy Commissioner of Police Sameer Shaikh of Zone 6 said the accused has been identified, and a search operation is underway to trace and arrest the suspect. Initial investigations indicate that the killing may have been linked to personal relationships and internal disputes. However, the police are examining all possible angles to establish the exact motive behind the crime. Murder case registered A case of murder has been registered at Shivaji Nagar police station. Further investigation is in progress to determine the sequence of events leading to the shooting.
10 February,2026 06:16 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerAn 18-year-old student, on his way to appear for his HSC board exam, died after sustaining serious injuries near the Kalwa-Mumbra railway section on Tuesday morning, officials from the Thane Railway Police said. The incident occurred at around 9.15 am on February 10 near kilometre number 36/125, between Kalwa and Mumbra railway stations. The deceased has been identified as Soham Sachin Kathare, a resident of Dombivli. According to police, Soham was travelling to Kalwa to appear for his Class 12 board examination when the incident took place. He was found injured near the railway track and was taken to the Civil Hospital by police personnel from Kalwa. Doctors examined him on arrival, but he was declared dead at 10.30 am, before admission for treatment. Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) in the matter and are further investigating the matter to determine the exact cause of the incident.
10 February,2026 05:28 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Aarey Police have arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with the theft of a Tata Tempo reported earlier this month. The accused has been identified as Brijesh Kumar Rekovar alias Tiger (28), a web series actor residing in a rented accommodation at Unit No. 31, Ambawadi. According to the police, the Tata Tempo was stolen on January 18. CCTV footage collected during the investigation showed the stolen vehicle moving through Goregaon and later crossing the Thane toll naka. At the time of the theft, the accused was seen wearing red-coloured clothes, which proved crucial in identifying and tracking him. Police officials said the accused had come to Mumbai a couple of years ago in search of work and had started working as a driver about four months ago. However, due to a lack of steady employment and financial difficulties, he allegedly stole the tempo to arrange money for his sister’s wedding. During interrogation, police found that the accused had earlier worked as a side actor in Bengali web series but had been without work for several days. With his sister’s marriage fixed and in urgent need of money, he allegedly committed the theft. Further questioning revealed that after stealing the tempo, the accused drove it to Nashik and parked it outside Nashik Railway Station, hoping to sell the vehicle. However, before he could dispose of it, police traced and arrested him. Based on technical evidence and CCTV analysis, the accused was arrested from the Santosh Nagar area in Dindoshi by the Aarey Colony police. Further investigation is underway.
10 February,2026 04:58 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanA man’s body was found cut into pieces and stuffed into a bag at Juhu beach in Mumbai. Following the discovery, the Santacruz Police in western suburbs registered a murder case and nabbed a suspect. Officers have arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with the murder of a 40-year-old man whose body was found cut into pieces and dumped in the sea. According to the police, the incident came to light on Monday, when a plastic bag containing male body parts was found near Landing Point at Juhu Beach in Santacruz West. The body was cut from the neck to the waist. After examining the remains, the police confirmed that it was a case of murder. The deceased has been identified as Ashok Harilal God, aged 40, a resident of Mumbai. During the investigation, police used technical and confidential information to trace the suspect. The accused has been identified as Wahid Ali Mohammad Israil Shaikh, also known as Mittu, aged 30. He works in the garment business and lives in Goregaon West, Mumbai. He is originally from Amroha district in Uttar Pradesh. Police said that the accused confessed to killing Ashok God and cutting his body into pieces. He then packed the body parts in a plastic bag and threw them into the sea to destroy the evidence. The accused was arrested on Tuesday and has been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder and destruction of evidence. Senior police officers, including the commissioner and deputy commissioners of police, are supervising the investigation. A special team from Santacruz Police Station is conducting further inquiries into the case. The police are probing the exact motive behind the brutal murder, sources said, adding that more details will be revealed as the investigation progresses.
10 February,2026 03:46 PM IST | Mumbai | Asif RizviIn a major blow to an inter-state forgery syndicate, the Mata Ramabai Marg (MRA Marg) Police in Fort, Mumbai, have busted a gang accused of printing and circulating fake postal stamps across India, seizing counterfeit stamps worth Rs 27.84 lakh and exposing a scam that allegedly routed Rs 7–8 crore through suspect bank accounts. The case came to light on September 12, 2025, after a complaint by a 42-year-old postal inspector from Mumbai General Post Office (GPO) triggered a deep dive into irregular stamp circulation. A case was accordingly registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. From Mumbai to Bihar, and a 14-day Delhi watch Technical analysis and coordination with the Mumbai GPO revealed that fake stamps were being dispatched to multiple states via courier. The trail led investigators to arrest the first accused in Mumbai. His interrogation opened the Bihar link, resulting in the arrest of two more suspects from Samastipur, where the police detected suspicious banking activity involving crores of rupees. The mastermind, however, had gone underground—changing phones and addresses. Acting on tactical intelligence, a police team camped in Delhi for 14 days, keeping round-the-clock surveillance before finally nabbing two key accused from Delhi–National Capital Region (NCR). The breakthrough yielded a massive cache of counterfeit stamps ready for nationwide distribution. Mumbai Police recovered forged stamps featuring iconic national personalities and symbols Rs 20 stamps of Mother Teresa: 23,100 pieces worth Rs 4.62 lakh Rs 10 stamps of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: 1.25 lakh pieces worth Rs 12.50 lakh Rs 5 stamps of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam: 70,000 pieces worth Rs 3.50 lakh Rs 5 stamps of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: 20,000 pieces worth Rs 1 lakh Rs 200 stamps of Ashoka Pillar: 595 pieces worth Rs 1.19 lakh Rs 100 stamps of Ashoka Pillar: 32 pieces worth Rs 3,200 Rs 50 stamps of Rabindranath Tagore: 10,000 pieces worth Rs 5 lakh Total seizure: Rs 27,84,200 Investigators said the forged stamps were couriered to different states, causing direct losses to the government exchequer. Five accused have been arrested from Mumbai, Bihar, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. The police believe that there are more accused on the run and a manhunt is underway to nab them. The operation was carried out under the guidance of senior officers from the south division of Mumbai Police, with the MRA Marg Police’s team leveraging technical intelligence, financial analysis, and field surveillance to dismantle the network.
10 February,2026 03:08 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanADVERTISEMENT
