Mumbai Police have registered a first information report (FIR) against an unknown fraudster after guests of a five-star hotel in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) received fake booking payment links, allegedly aimed at duping them. According to the police, the accused sent messages containing a fraudulent payment link using the hotel’s name, asking guests to make payments to confirm their room reservations. Around 20 guests alerted the hotel management after receiving the suspicious link, following which the hotel’s chief security officer, Akshay Daine (47), approached the police and lodged a complaint. During the investigation, the BKC Police found that not only confirmed guests but also individuals who searched for the hotel on Google were being targeted with the fake payment link. A police officer said, “On November 30, a hotel guest contacted the management and informed them that he had received a message regarding room reservations along with a link — https://reservationvalidate.com/8SSNQ2CK.” “After clicking on the link, a booking page opened asking for payment details. The guest then checked with the hotel to verify whether the link had been sent by them. The management clarified that the link was not issued by the hotel and advised the guest not to enter any personal or financial information,” the officer added. Subsequently, around 20 guests who had reserved rooms at the hotel contacted the management, stating that they too had received similar fake booking payment links demanding money. Based on the complaint, the BKC Police on Monday registered a case against unknown persons under Section 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act. Sub-inspector Umesh Nerlekar of BKC Police, who is investigating the case, told mid-day.com, “An FIR has been registered against an unknown fraudster for sending fake booking payment links to guests of a five-star hotel in BKC.” “We are tracing the accused and are taking the help of the cyber team,” he added. Police said the fraudster used WhatsApp accounts with profile names ‘Kokonuts’ and ‘hotel manager’ to circulate the fake payment links.
16 December,2025 07:26 PM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaOfficers of the airport commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone–3, have seized 33.422 kg of hydroponic weed from 11 passengers arriving from Bangkok over a five-day period. According to a press note issued on Monday, the seizures were made between December 11 and December 15, during which customs officers registered eight separate cases at Mumbai’s international airport. Officers said that 16.482 kg of suspected drugs, valued at approximately Rs 16.48 crore in the illicit market, were recovered in four cases from five passengers based on passenger profiling. The accused had arrived from Bangkok on different flights and were arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Further investigation underway, say Mumbai Customs officers In other cases, customs officers, acting on specific intelligence inputs, recovered 16.940 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, valued at around Rs 16.94 crore, from six passengers across four cases. These passengers had also arrived from Bangkok via various flights and were subsequently arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Further investigation in all the cases is underway, officers said.
16 December,2025 02:53 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanA Palghar court has convicted two persons for criminal intimidation of a woman panchayat official in a 2018 case, while acquitting them of more serious charges related to assault and insult of a public servant, reported news agency PTI. Additional Sessions Court Judge A R Rahane, in the order on December 1, deemed sending the accused to jail unnecessary and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each on them. A copy of the order was made available on Monday. The incident The incident occurred on September 25, 2018, when a gram sevika (panchayat official- who is the informant in the case) was conducting a survey for a housing scheme at Kharshet in Maharashtra's Palghar district, reported PTI. The accused, Jayshree Jagan Dhanva and Shivdas Gangaram Tambadi, allegedly confronted her about their names missing from the list and abused her. Tambadi also allegedly snatched and damaged her mobile phone, as per the prosecution. A case was registered against them under Indian Penal Code sections 353 (assault to deter public servant from duty), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 427 (mischief causing damage above Rs 50) and 34 (common intention). Prosecution has failed: Palghar Court The court said, "The prosecution has failed to prove that the informant was lawfully discharging her duty at the time of the incident. The most essential ingredient of Section 353 is not proved," reported PTI. It also noted that the informant did not disclose the exact abuses. "So, it is difficult to infer that alleged abuses are covered under Section 504 of IPC," the Palghar court said, reported PTI. Based on the actions of the accused, including damaging the informant's mobile phone, the court convicted them under IPC sections 506 and 427. "It is not necessary for an offence punishable under Section 427 that property should be owned by the aggrieved person. It is sufficient that the said property was in possession of the aggrieved person at the time of the incident," it said, reported PTI. The Palghar court imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each on the accused and ordered that Rs 7,000 from it be paid as compensation to the informant. (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2025 01:57 PM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentPolice have arrested an absconding accused in a five-year-old case of attempt to murder in Maharashtra's Palghar district, officials said on Tuesday, reported news agency PTI. The incident occurred in the Waliv area here on May 22, 2020, following a dispute, they said. The accused, Akash Harilal Yadav (31), and some other persons allegedly assaulted two men with sticks, leaving them with serious head injuries. The accused and his mother also allegedly threatened a local businessman with dire consequences, a police release said, reported PTI. Based on the businessman's complaint, the Waliv police then registered a case under various Indian Penal Code sections, including attempt to murder and criminal intimidation, reported PTI. However, Yadav had been absconding since the incident. After an extensive probe, the police on Sunday traced Yadav to the Vasai area and arrested him, the release said. Police crack murder case in 12 hours; three held In another case, the police arrested three individuals, including a woman, within 12 hours of the brutal murder of a 37-year-old man in Thane district of Maharashtra, officials said on Monday, reported PTI. The victim, Narendra alias Kalia Jadhav, was stabbed with sickles and knives, inflicting 40 injuries on him, on Saturday night in Dombivli area, police said. "We have arrested two men and a woman, identified as Akash Birajdar (29), Diwakar Gupta (18), and Taruni Alifa Sheikh (18), within twelve hours in connection with the murder in the Diva area," said Ramnagar police station senior inspector Ganesh Javadwad, reported PTI. He said the previous enmity between Jadhav and Birajdar triggered the fatal attack. The victim's friend, Shubham Pandey, was injured when he tried to intervene. Police registered an FIR under various sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita for murder and attempt to murder, and under the provisions of the Arms Act. The arrested accused were remanded to police custody till December 18. Man held for beating wife to death in Palghar Meanwhile, police have arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly beating his wife to death following a domestic quarrel in Maharashtra's Palghar district, an official said on Sunday, reported PTI. The couple, who lived at Gomghar village in Mokhada taluka, had frequent fights over domestic issues. They again had a quarrel in the wee hours of Saturday, following which the accused, Balwant Gare, allegedly beat his wife Lata Balwant Gare to death with a wooden log, an official from Mokhada police station said, quoting a complaint by the victim's father, reported PTI. Based on the complaint, the accused was arrested and booked under section 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the official said. (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2025 12:12 PM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentPolice have registered a case against four Mumbai-based traders for allegedly cheating a textile businessman from Maharashtra's Thane district of Rs 35 lakh, officials said on Tuesday, reported news agency PTI. The accused purchased consignments of grey (unprocessed) cloth from the 42-year-old victim, a resident of Gayatri Nagar in Bhiwandi town, between June and November this year, reported PTI. However, instead of clearing the dues, they allegedly sold the material to third parties and continued to evade payment, an official from Bhiwandi Town police station said. When the victim demanded payment, the accused stopped responding to his calls and later shut down their office and absconded, he said, reported PTI. Based on the victim's complaint, the police registered a case on Sunday against the four accused under sections 318(4) (cheating) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the official said. Man held in Mumbai for duping people by promising them cheaper MHADA flats In another incident, the police have arrested a 53-year-old man in Mumbai for cheating people by promising them flats of the state-run housing agency MHADA at rates cheaper than market prices, officials said on Thursday. The accused was identified as Jitendra Sukhlal Rathod, who was nabbed by a team of the police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Wednesday from the Chembur area, an official said. During the probe, it was revealed that at least eight cases of cheating and forgery were registered against Rathod in various police stations since 2022. Earlier, the EOW had arrested a 48-year-old woman, Bela D'Souza, in connection with the cheating case. A 58-year-old woman, who stays in the Mazgaon area, had filed a complaint against D'Souza and others for duping her of Rs 70 lakh by promising a MHADA flat at a cheaper price. During the probe, it came to light that the accused persons, including Rathod, had duped many others by promising cheaper flats, he said. Meanwhile, a man was booked for allegedly posing as a personal assistant of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and husband of a DCP and duping a man of Rs 74 lakh, a police official said on Monday, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2025 12:01 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA 30-year-old man was arrested for allegedly posing as a “doctor uncle” and sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl in Chembur. The incident occurred on Sunday (December 14) near a local medical shop, where the child was playing near her residence. The accused, Karan Adsule, 30, approached the victim, claiming he needed to conduct a routine check-up. Trusting him, the girl complied, after which the offence took place. After the girl told her family, a complaint was filed, and the Nehru Nagar police registered a case under laws protecting minors. Adsule, a Kurla resident, was arrested from the spot around 9.30 am the same day. Verification proved he had no medical licence and falsely posed as a doctor to gain the child’s confidence. “There is no CCTV coverage in the immediate area, which limits visual evidence. However, statements of the victim, family members, and residents are being recorded to establish the exact sequence of events,” a police officer said. The victim has been provided with medical care and counselling support in line with child protection protocols. Police said the child’s identity is being protected as per legal guidelines. Investigators are checking whether the accused has a prior criminal record or was involved in similar incidents earlier. The police urge parents to caution children against strangers. The probe is ongoing.
16 December,2025 07:57 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentTwo 19-year-old students returning back home from their college were on Monday killed after their bike lost balance allegedly due to overspeeding in Borivali area of Mumbai, police said. The accident took place on Monday afternoon at the Sudhir Phadke Bridge in Borivali, officials said. Both were college students According to the primary information, the deceased have been identified as Jenil Thumar (19) and Mehak Nirman (19). Both were college students and were returning to their homes in Mira Road from college, police officials said. They said that while travelling towards the Western Express Highway on the Sudhir Phadke Bridge, the motorcycle they were riding lost balance at a curve due to overspeeding. Bike rammed into bridge’s boundary wall The bike rammed into the bridge’s boundary wall, causing both riders to be thrown onto the other side of the road. They then came under a private bus passing by, leading to their death on the spot, an official said. The Kasturba Marg police are investigating the matter. Senior Inspector Jairaj Ranaware confirmed the incident and said further investigation is underway.
15 December,2025 09:50 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanA mobile phone theft in Mumbai's Kandivali area escalated into a violent altercation on Sunday night. When the police attempted to take the accused into custody, his family members intervened, leading to a scuffle with cops. Five people have been arrested following the incident. According to police sources, the incident occurred near Ektanagar. Upon receiving information about a quarrel and physical assault triggered by a mobile phone theft, the Kandivali Police team rushed to the spot. While the police were separating the fighting parties and attempting to take the accused into custody by placing them in a police van, the family members of the accused allegedly got into an argument with the cops and resorted to scuffling and obstruction of duty. Based on the incident, the police have registered cases under serious offences against more than five persons and have arrested five others. Case details The police said that two people, identified as Nitesh and Eliya, allegedly attempted to snatch the mobile phone of Anil Yadav. Yadav informed his relative Shivam, who then went to confront Nitesh along with his friends, Dashrath Kanojia and Bhim Kanojia. During the confrontation, a fight broke out involving Pappu Jha, Vicky Singh, and Nitesh. When the police intervened and asked those involved to accompany them to the police station, Jha, along with his father Chandrakant, mother Suman, brother Guddu, and Singh, allegedly created a ruckus, obstructed police personnel, and resisted official action. The police have registered cases in connection with the incident and arrested five accused in the case. Efforts are ongoing to trace and arrest Jha’s parents and brother, the police said. The arrested accused were produced before the Borivali Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Monday, and all of them were remanded in police custody.
15 December,2025 07:30 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanMumbai Police have arrested members of a habitual inter-state gang for allegedly cheating a Malad resident of Rs 25 lakh by falsely claiming to have unearthed gold ornaments during excavation work and selling him counterfeit jewellery, an official said. The case has been registered at Malad Police Station under Crime Register No. 883/25, invoking Sections 316(2), 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to the police, the complainant, Dinesh Mehta (51), a resident of Ankur Building in Somwar Bazaar, Malad (West), was approached by the main accused, Baboolal Bhalaram Waghela (55), between November 26 and December 4, 2025. The accused allegedly initiated contact by conversing in Rajasthani and gradually gained the complainant’s confidence. Waghela claimed that gold ornaments weighing around 900 grams had been discovered during excavation work behind a temple in Nashik. He offered either to sell the ornaments on Mehta’s behalf or to sell them directly to him. To establish credibility, the accused reportedly showed the ornaments and provided a few yellow-metal beads as samples, which tested positive for gold. Trusting the claim, Mehta allegedly paid Rs 25 lakh in cash and took possession of the jewellery. However, when the ornaments were later examined by a goldsmith, they were found to be fake. The complainant then approached the police, following which an FIR was registered on December 5, 2025. The investigation: During the investigation, the Crime Detection Team of Malad Police collected CCTV footage from the crime scene and surrounding areas, including Kandivali East, and analysed technical data such as call detail records and mobile dump data. Although the CCTV visuals were unclear, police said the accused were traced based on body structure, gait analysis and technical inputs after examining footage from over 100 government and private cameras over three consecutive days. The probe led to the identification of five accused. Two were traced to Gandhinagar in Gujarat and two to Virar East in Palghar district. The prime accused, Waghela, was first arrested from his residence in Kalol, Gandhinagar district. A search of his house led to the seizure of Rs 15.45 lakh in cash, believed to be part of the cheated amount, and a mobile phone allegedly used in the crime. During interrogation, Waghela disclosed the involvement of his wife, Kokubai Baboolal Waghela (50). She has been served a notice under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and directed to appear before the police. After securing transit remand from a court in Kalol, the accused was brought to Mumbai and produced before a holiday court in Borivali. Subsequently, the remaining three accused—Manglaram Manaram Wagri (34), Kesararam Bhagtaram Wagri (41) and Bhavarlal Baboolal Wagri (48)—were arrested from Virar East. Police said all three are engaged in photo-frame making, and their role in the offence was confirmed during interrogation. Investigators said all the accused are originally from Rajasthan’s Jalore district and are part of a gang that travels across states to commit similar offences. Police also revealed that Waghela has previous cheating cases registered against him at the Kalol Taluka Police Station and Sabarmati Police Station in Gujarat. Another accused, identified as Govind and aged around 30, is currently absconding, and efforts are underway to trace him. While Rs 15.45 lakh has been recovered so far, police said recovery of the remaining amount and other property is in progress. The investigation is being conducted by Assistant Police Inspectors Abhijit Kale and Deepak Raivade under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector Dushyant Chavan of Malad Police Station.
15 December,2025 07:29 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) Unit-1 of the Mira-Bhayandar–Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police in Maharashtra on Monday said that it has busted a mephedrone manufacturing unit in Rajasthan and has seized drugs and raw materials worth Rs 100 crore. The mephedrone also called as MD manufacturing factory was busted in Jhunjhunu area of Rajasthan. The cops also seized precursor chemicals and equipment worth an estimated Rs 100 crore, said an official. Initial seizure in Maharashtra The operation began on October 4, 2025, when officers of ANC Unit-1 were on patrol duty. Acting on suspicion, they searched six individuals and recovered 509.6 grams of MD drugs worth Rs 1,00,32,000, six mobile phones worth Rs 1,88,000 and four motorcycles worth Rs 4,10,000. A case was registered at Kashigaon Police Station under the NDPS Act Sections 8(c), 22(c) and 29. Further investigation was taken over by ANC Unit-1. More arrests and seizures during probe During the course of investigation, the police arrested four more accused connected to the drug racket. The following items were seized from them. It included two four-wheelers and one motorcycle worth Rs 20 lakh, and six mobile phones worth Rs 2.05 lakh, officials said. Factory traced to Rajasthan While searching for absconding accused, the police received specific information and dispatched a team to Rajasthan. On November 19, 2025, the team located a drug manufacturing factory in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, and arrested Anil Vijaypal Sihag. Massive Drug Haul Recovered From the factory premises, the police recovered and around 10 kilograms of MD drugs, precursor chemicals used to manufacture MD, drug-making equipment including flasks, mixers, dryer machines, weighing scales, gloves and filters and the total value of the seized material is estimated at Rs 100 crore. The operation was carried out under the guidance of Niket Kaushik, Police Commissioner, Dattatray Shinde, Additional Police Commissioner, Sandeep Doiphode, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Madan Ballal, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Detection). "The action was executed by officers and staff of Anti-Narcotics Cell Unit-1 and Unit-2, along with support from the Cyber Police Station. Police said further investigation into the interstate drug network is ongoing.
15 December,2025 06:42 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanKurar Police in Mumbai’ Malad East arrested a 45-year-old man within 12 hours of registering a case of rape and criminal intimidation, officers said. According to the police, the case was registered on December 13 at 9.14 am under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The accused has been identified as Mahesh Ramesh Pawar, a resident of Virar West in Palghar district. According to the complainant, the accused allegedly drugged her by mixing a sedative in a cold drink around 15 years ago and raping her. Pawar also allegedly recorded a video of the act. The police said that the complainant later discovered, through a WhatsApp group for persons with disabilities, that the accused had committed similar acts against five to six other women. After discussing the matter with her husband, she approached the police and lodged a formal complaint, following which her statement was recorded and the case was registered. During investigation, the police traced the accused using mobile phone location data, laid a trap and arrested him following a technical and physical search operation. The operation was carried out under the guidance of Senior Inspector Sanjeev Tawde of Kurar Police Station. The investigation team included Assistant Inspector Sanjay Gholve, Sub-inspector Somnath Jadhav, and police personnel Baban Rathod, Shrikant Gore, Bala Vairal, and Santosh Fadtare, and Head Constable Bhogle of Dindoshi Police Station. Further investigation is underway.
15 December,2025 03:32 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanADVERTISEMENT
