A 52-year-old man was seriously injured after an armed assailant allegedly broke into his house and opened fire in Palghar district of Maharashtra in the early hours of Monday, police said, reported the PTI. The incident took place at around 2.30 am in Vadhave village of Palghar tehsil. According to police, the accused, Umesh Gharat (45), a resident of Betegaon, allegedly entered the house of Suresh Varghade and fired at him before fleeing the scene. Varghade suffered gunshot wounds and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital. He is currently undergoing treatment and remains under medical care. A case has been registered against the accused under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act, police said, as per the PTI. Yatish Deshmukh, Superintendent of Police of Palghar district, said that the accused is currently absconding and efforts are underway to trace and arrest him, the news agency reported. Motive under investigation Police said preliminary investigations are being carried out to find out whether the attack was the result of a personal dispute in the area or linked to some other grievance. Further details are awaited as the investigation continues. Man stabbed, stoned to death in gang violence in Palghar Meanwhile, in an another incident, a 31-year-old man was stabbed and stoned to death by a group of men on a busy road in Palghar district in a gang-related violence, police said on Sunday, according to the PTI. The police have taken one person into custody, and a search has been launched for several others involved in the gruesome killing that took place in the Nalasopara area late on Friday night, an official said. A CCTV footage, which has gone viral on social media, showed a group of men intercepting an autorickshaw, dragging the victim out, stabbing him and hitting him with stones. The victim, Shubham Mishra, a resident of Gala Nagar in Nalasopara East, was travelling in an autorickshaw when the accused, who were part of a rival gang, stopped the vehicle on the pretext of wanting cigarettes, he said, reported the PTI. "The accused dragged Mishra out and launched a violent attack using knives and heavy stones," he said. Victim sustained grievous injuries Mishra sustained grievous injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed during treatment around midnight, the official said. As per preliminary probe, the dispute between the victim and the accused began at a local bar, he said, adding that the killing may have been a fallout of an enmity between two gangs. The Nalasopara police have registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including murder and criminal conspiracy, the official said. Probe underway "We have taken one person into custody so far. A massive search has been launched to track down the other absconding accused," he said, adding that the attack in public caused tension in the locality, prompting a heavy police presence to maintain law and order, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
23 February,2026 04:40 PM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentA 43-year-old man has been booked in Maharashtra's Thane for allegedly cheating a medical store owner of Rs 35.42 lakh by promising to secure his son admission in a medical college under a so-called “VIP quota”, police said on Monday, reported the PTI. According to the officials, an FIR was registered on February 22 against Balkum resident Prashant Mahajan. The case has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Narpoli Police Station in Thane. Sub-inspector Santosh Shinde said that the accused and the complainant knew each other. Mahajan allegedly assured the victim that he could arrange admission for his son to a medical college through a VIP quota. Trusting him, the medical store owner paid Rs 35.42 lakh in several instalments. However, the promised admission did not materialise. After waiting for some time and realising that no seat had been secured, the victim approached the police and lodged a complaint. Cops launch probe Police have started an investigation into the matter, said an official. The accused has not yet been arrested, and further enquiries are ongoing, officials said, according to the PTI. Thane engineer loses Rs 3 crore in online trading fraud Meanwhile, in an another incident, a 46-year-old mechanical engineer in Maharashtra's Thane city has allegedly been duped of Rs 3.15 crore after being lured to invest in a fraudulent online trading platform, police said on Sunday, as per the PTI. The complainant, a resident of the Kasarvadavali area, alleged that a person had contacted him and promised high returns through investments on a website. Believing the representation to be true, the complainant invested Rs 3,15,67,954 between December 12, 2025 and February 11 this year, cyber police station sub-inspector Lahu Rathod said. Shown profit of USD 5 lakh "The complainant stated that he was initially shown a profit of USD 5 lakh on the platform, which built his confidence. However, when he attempted to withdraw or secure his invested amount, his account was blocked and he realised that he had been cheated," the official said, the news agency reported. Based on his complaint, the police registered a case on Friday against three individuals under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 318(4) (cheating) and 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), and sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act for cheating, impersonation and online fraud, he said, as per the PTI. A probe was underway into the case. (with PTI inputs)
23 February,2026 04:24 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe police on Monday said that two unidentified persons have allegedly kidnapped a 20-year-old man in Maharashtra's Thane city and demanded Rs 5 lakh from his friend for his release, reported news agency PTI. The incident occurred in the Manpada area on Saturday evening when the victim and his friend were returning home on a motorbike after meeting another friend. Two unidentified persons on a motorbike allegedly waylaid them, assaulted them and forced the victim onto their two-wheeler before fleeing, an official said, reported PTI. Later, the kidnappers contacted the victim's friend through WhatsApp and demanded Rs 5 lakh for his release, the police said. The victim's friend subsequently lodged a police complaint. He has not received any subsequent calls from the kidnappers so far, the official said, reported PTI. The police suspect the incident could be the result of personal rivalry. They registered a case on Sunday under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for kidnapping and extortion and were probing it, the official said. Man stabbed, stoned to death in gang violence in Palghar In another case, a 31-year-old man was stabbed and stoned to death by a group of men on a busy road in Maharashtra's Palghar district in a gang-related violence, police said on Sunday, reported PTI. The police have taken one person into custody, and a search has been launched for several others involved in the gruesome killing that took place in the Nalasopara area late on Friday night, an official said, reported PTI. A CCTV footage, which has gone viral on social media, showed a group of men intercepting an autorickshaw, dragging the victim out, stabbing him and hitting him with stones. The victim, Shubham Mishra, a resident of Gala Nagar in Nalasopara East, was travelling in an autorickshaw when the accused, who were part of a rival gang, stopped the vehicle on the pretext of wanting cigarettes, he said, reported PTI. "The accused dragged Mishra out and launched a violent attack using knives and heavy stones," he said. Mishra sustained grievous injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed during treatment around midnight, the official said, reported PTI. As per preliminary probe, the dispute between the victim and the accused began at a local bar, he said, adding that the killing may have been a fallout of an enmity between two gangs. The Nalasopara police have registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including murder and criminal conspiracy, the official said, reported PTI. "We have taken one person into custody so far. A massive search has been launched to track down the other absconding accused," he said, adding that the attack in public caused tension in the locality, prompting a heavy police presence to maintain law and order. (With inputs from PTI)
23 February,2026 12:10 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA Sangli-based businessman lost Rs 33 lakh, while 36 other people were also duped in what police say was a carefully staged civic recruitment scam. Anilkumar Krishnarao Gonjari, 50, lodged a complaint with Kurla police alleging that the accused promised jobs in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) L ward in Kurla in exchange for money. According to the FIR, the main accused, Maya Narendra Chavan, 59, who works as a peon in the Solid Waste Department of BMC’s L ward, claimed she had contacts and could secure appointments. She quoted fixed rates — Rs 1.7 lakh for peon, Rs 1.8 lakh for clerk, and Rs 2.5 lakh for RA clerk and head clerk posts. The victims were also allegedly taken to the ward office and introduced to persons posing as officials, including Rahul Jadhav, who claimed to be an engineer, while the financial transactions were allegedly handled by Chavan’s son, Prathamesh Chavan, and associate Surendra Gurav. Candidates were later sent for medical examinations at a hospital in Ghatkopar, where Rs 10,000 per candidate was allegedly collected in cash. Over several months, Gonjari claims he transferred Rs 24.68 lakh online and paid Rs 8.3 lakh in cash — a total of Rs 33 lakh. When appointment letters did not materialise, the accused allegedly executed a notarised affidavit acknowledging the amount and promising repayment. The money was not returned, prompting the complaint. Police said they have registered a case under relevant sections of the BNS. The accused >> Maya Narendra Chavan>> Prathamesh Narendra Chavan>> Surendra Sitaram Gurav>> Rahul Jadhav>> Prashant Jagannath Sutar>> Someshwar Ibitwar Money demanded for post Peon Rs 1.7 LakhClerk Rs 1.8 LakhRA/Head clerk Rs 2.5 Lakh Rs 10,000Additional from each for medical tests Rs 33 LakhTotal money paid 36No of people duped
23 February,2026 08:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerA 38-year-old habitual housebreaker from Virar, known for avoiding CCTV detection, silently cutting window grills with a handsaw, has been arrested by Kanjurmarg police in connection with a burglary at a senior citizen’s home in Bhandup East earlier this month. Police say the accused, already facing over 20 cases, allegedly stole gold jewellery worth more than Rs 3.7 lakh in the break-in. How police cracked case >> Crime pattern matched known offender profile>> Surveillance of habitual offenders intensified>> Tip-off from a confidential informant>> Accused traced to the Mira-Bhayandar area>> Recovered property: Rs 2.7 lakh worth of jewellery What was stolen >> Estimated value: Rs 3.7 lakh+>> Items listed in FIR:>> 2 gold bangles>> Mangalsutra with diamond pendant>> 4 rings>> Chains>> Earrings>> Diamond earring set Modus operandi >> Police say the accused typically:>> Avoids CCTV cameras>> Uses a handsaw to cut metal window grills>> Bends grills silently to gain entry Case Snapshot Accused: Atish Sakharkar, 38, VirarPolice station: KanjurmargPrior record: 20+ casesCrime location: Bhandup EastIncident window: Night of Feb 8FIR lodged: Morning of Feb 9
23 February,2026 07:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Sarthak MehtaA 26-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly siphoning off over Rs 3.5 lakh collected from women borrowers, in a case that has raised concerns over cash-based EMI collection systems. Police said the accused, Pratap Shetty, worked with a private micro finance company and was responsible for collecting instalments from women self-help groups and depositing the money at the firm’s Malad West office the same day. Malad police station. Pic/By Special Arrangement What happened Jan 12, 2026>> Collection round in Bhagat Singh Nagar, Goregaon>> Time: 10:30 am to 7 pm>> Borrowers visited: 47>> Cash collected: Rs 3,51,350 Instead of depositing the amount, Shetty allegedly went missing. When the money did not appear in the company accounts, an internal check was conducted. His phone was switched off, and he could not be located at his residence. The company then lodged a complaint with Malad police. Where the money allegedly went Police said the accused’s relatives had loans with the same finance company and were struggling to repay instalments. “A portion of the collected money was allegedly used to clear some of their EMIs,” an officer said. The exact amount diverted and recovery status are still being verified. Police action >> FIR registered at Malad police station on January 19>> Technical tracking is used to trace suspect>> Accused arrested in Mumbai on Feb 14>> Taken into custody for questioning>> The probe is being conducted under DCP Sandeep Jadhav (Zone XI) by Senior Inspector Dushyant Chauhan and PSI Akshay Adwal Case at a glance Accused: Pratap Shetty, 26Job role: Recovery agent / CROService tenure: 4 yearsCustomers affected: 47Amount involved: Rs 3.51 lakhCollection date: Jan 12, 2026FIR registered: Jan 19Arrest date: Feb 14, 2026 What police are checking now >> Final total misappropriated amount>> Whether similar incidents happened earlier>> Possible involvement of other staff>> Internal lapses at the firm
23 February,2026 06:51 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanA special court in Thane district on Sunday acquitted nine persons booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for a 2017 attempted dacoity and firing, citing insufficient evidence against them, news agency PTI reported. Special Judge VG Mohite acquitted the accused of charges under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 395 (dacoity), and 397 (robbery with attempt to cause death) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with provisions of the MCOCA. A copy of the order dated February 17 (Tuesday) was made available on Sunday. According to the prosecution, on July 22, 2017, the accused intercepted a jeep carrying Rs 7 lakh in cash belonging to a wine shop in Bhiwandi and fired at the vehicle, injuring three employees, PTI reported. The driver managed to escape, preventing the theft. The court, however, found the evidence linking the accused to the crime insufficient. It noted minor discrepancies in witness testimonies and observed that the accused did not have the opportunity to snatch the cash bag from the injured persons. No money was reportedly stolen from the vehicle. While weapons and cash were recovered from one absconding accused, the judge ruled that this did not incriminate the others. The trial against the absconding accused, Raju Shetty, has been separated, PTI reported. Mumbai sessions court convicts two in 2019 kidnapping and robbery case under MCOCA A sessions court in Mumbai on Friday convicted two men in a 2019 kidnapping and robbery case registered at Borivali Police Station. The court, while passing the order, held them guilty under provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The verdict was delivered by the Court of Additional Sessions Judge SR Navandar after the completion of final arguments. The case was registered under Sections 394 (robbery), 363 (kidnapping), 364A (kidnapping for ransom), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC, along with Sections 3(1)(ii), 3(2), 3(4), and 3(5) of MCOCA. After completion of the final hearing, the court held that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The convicted accused have been identified as Praveen Mahadev Helkar (30) and Suresh Omprakash (33). Under Section 394 read with 34 of the IPC, the court sentenced both to six years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each. The court also stated a condition where, in default of payment, they will undergo an additional six months’ imprisonment. (With PTI inputs)
22 February,2026 06:48 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA 46-year-old mechanical engineer in Maharashtra's Thane city has allegedly been duped of Rs 3.15 crore after being lured to invest in a fraudulent online trading platform, police said on Sunday, reported news agency PTI. The complainant, a resident of the Kasarvadavali area, alleged that a person had contacted him and promised high returns through investments on a website, reported PTI. Believing the representation to be true, the complainant invested Rs 3,15,67,954 between December 12, 2025 and February 11 this year, cyber police station sub-inspector Lahu Rathod said. "The complainant stated that he was initially shown a profit of USD 5 lakh on the platform, which built his confidence. However, when he attempted to withdraw or secure his invested amount, his account was blocked and he realised that he had been cheated," the official said, reported PTI. Based on his complaint, the police registered a case on Friday against three individuals under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 318(4) (cheating) and 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), and sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act for cheating, impersonation and online fraud, he said. A probe was underway into the case. Thane murder accused held from Palghar after year-long hunt In another case, the police have arrested a 24-year-old man from Palghar who had been absconding for more than a year in connection with a murder during a New Year party in Maharashtra's Thane district, officials said on Sunday, reported PTI. The incident occurred in the Kashimira area in the wee hours of January 1, 2025, when the victim and his friends gathered for the celebration at the house of one of them. While they were dancing to music being played on a sound system installed there, an argument broke out between one of them and a local man over the playing of a song, a police official said, reported PTI. The man later called his associates to the spot and they allegedly assaulted the victim and his friends with wooden sticks and other objects, the police said. In the attack, Raja Pariyar sustained grievous injuries and died, while two of his friends were seriously injured, the official said, reported PTI. Based on a complaint by one of the injured persons, the Kashimira police had registered a case on charges of murder and other offences against five absconding accused. Based on technical analysis and specific information, the police traced one of the accused, identified as Aadesh alias Chala Prakash Jadhav, to Wakipada at Naigaon in Vasai in neighbouring Palghar district and took him into custody on February 19, the police said, reported PTI. Search was underway for the other accused, the police said. (With inputs from PTI)
22 February,2026 02:40 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentPolice have arrested a 24-year-old man from Palghar who had been absconding for more than a year in connection with a murder during a New Year party in Maharashtra's Thane district, officials said on Sunday, reported news agency PTI. The incident occurred in the Kashimira area in the wee hours of January 1, 2025, when the victim and his friends gathered for the celebration at the house of one of them, reported PTI. While they were dancing to music being played on a sound system installed there, an argument broke out between one of them and a local man over the playing of a song, a police official said. The man later called his associates to the spot and they allegedly assaulted the victim and his friends with wooden sticks and other objects, the police said. In the attack, Raja Pariyar sustained grievous injuries and died, while two of his friends were seriously injured, the official said, reported PTI. Based on a complaint by one of the injured persons, the Kashimira police had registered a case on charges of murder and other offences against five absconding accused, reported PTI. Based on technical analysis and specific information, the police traced one of the accused, identified as Aadesh alias Chala Prakash Jadhav, to Wakipada at Naigaon in Vasai in neighbouring Palghar district and took him into custody on February 19, the police said, reported PTI. Search was underway for the other accused, the police said. Thane engineer loses Rs 3 crore in online trading fraud In another case, a 46-year-old mechanical engineer in Maharashtra's Thane city has allegedly been duped of Rs 3.15 crore after being lured to invest in a fraudulent online trading platform, police said on Sunday, reported PTI. The complainant, a resident of the Kasarvadavali area, alleged that a person had contacted him and promised high returns through investments on a website. Believing the representation to be true, the complainant invested Rs 3,15,67,954 between December 12, 2025 and February 11 this year, cyber police station sub-inspector Lahu Rathod said, reported PTI. "The complainant stated that he was initially shown a profit of USD 5 lakh on the platform, which built his confidence. However, when he attempted to withdraw or secure his invested amount, his account was blocked and he realised that he had been cheated," the official said, reported PTI. Based on his complaint, the police registered a case on Friday against three individuals under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 318(4) (cheating) and 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), and sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act for cheating, impersonation and online fraud, he said. A probe was underway into the case. (With inputs from PTI)
22 February,2026 02:31 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe officials said that the police have unearthed an egg-donation racket, suspected to be involving crores of rupees, that repeatedly exploited vulnerable women in Maharashtra's Thane district, reported news agency PTI. The victims were offered Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per cycle and repeatedly used as egg donors, resulting in physical exploitation. They were taken to IVF centres where the eggs were surgically extracted and sold for lakhs, they said, adding that so far, 20 women are believed to have fallen prey to the racket, reported PTI. Three arrested Three women have been arrested in connection with the illegal trade operating out of a residential apartment and a sonography centre at Joveli in Badlapur East, the police officials said on Saturday. Egg donation is a fertility procedure where a woman provides eggs for another person to conceive, usually via IVF (in vitro fertilisation). The donor undergoes screening and hormone treatment, eggs are retrieved, fertilised, and transferred to the recipient. The arrested persons have been identified as Sulakshana Gadekar (44), Ashwini Chabukswar (29), and Manjusha Wankhede (46), reported PTI. Following a tip-off from a victim to Thane Sub-District Hospital's Chief Medical Officer Dr Jyotsna Sawant, a raid was recently conducted at Gadekar's residence in Nano City building, the police said. "We recovered photos of injections used in connection with pregnancy, sonography reports, affidavits with false names, fake documents, and evidence of financial transactions on the mobile phones of the accused," a police official said, reported PTI. Accused targeted needy women The accused targeted needy women, paying them Rs 25,000 to 30,000 per cycle. The victims were allegedly administered hormonal injections to increase egg production and were repeatedly used as donors, leading to physical exploitation, the official said, reported PTI. "The process involved injecting the women to stimulate egg production and taking them for sonography. Once the eggs were ready, the victims were sent to IVF centres where the eggs were surgically extracted and sold for lakhs of rupees," the official added. Ulhasnagar Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Gore said that more than 20 women might have fallen victim to this racket so far, reported PTI. "The racket was previously operating in Vangani before shifting to Badlapur recently. We are investigating the involvement of IVF centres, doctors, and hospitals. High-profile names are likely to surface as the turnover of this illegal trade is estimated to be in crores," Gore said, reported PTI. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, the police added. (With inputs from PTI)
22 February,2026 02:20 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Police on Saturday opposed the anticipatory bail pleas filed by two executives of a construction firm in connection with the collapse of a parapet segment on an under-construction metro rail line in Mulund, reported the PTI. The incident took place on February 14, when a portion of a concrete parapet of Mumbai Metro Line 4 fell onto moving traffic, killing one person and seriously injuring three others. Following the accident, police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, mischief causing damage, and acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention. Alpesh Patel, managing partner, and Ganesh Gholap, technical director of Milan Road Buildtech LLP, approached a sessions court seeking pre-arrest bail, according to the PTI. In their plea, filed through advocate Suvarna Vast, the executives claimed they had no direct involvement in on-site fieldwork and were falsely implicated, the news agency reported. They argued that the site supervisor had instructed a welder not to touch the hooks of the unfinished precast parapet. According to them, the welder ignored these instructions, leading to the collapse, and later fled the scene. The firm stated that its project director and senior staff rushed to assist victims and fully cooperated with investigators, as per the PTI. Police cite safety responsibility In its written reply, Mumbai Police said the two executives were responsible for ensuring proper safety measures at the construction site. Police told the court that if granted bail, the applicants might not cooperate with the investigation. They also pointed out that although the duo were summoned on 16 February to appear with relevant documents, they failed to do so, suggesting they were evading the probe, reported the PTI. Investigators said that the custodial interrogation was necessary to examine possible safety lapses in the project. Alleged shortcut in construction Police further claimed that officials from Milan Road Buildtech and DB Hill-LBG installed parapets without carrying out essential concreting work. According to investigators, the accused were aware that bypassing standard procedures could cause heavy structures to collapse, yet they allegedly proceeded without informing safety authorities, the news agency reported. Describing the case as serious, police said the incident had triggered public anger and could create law and order concerns. Police also opposed the pre-arrest bail plea of project consultant T. Sai Suresh Kumar. Next hearing on February 25 The matter is scheduled to be heard next on February 25. The case has drawn attention to safety standards and accountability in large infrastructure projects across Mumbai, as per the PTI. (with PTI inputs)
21 February,2026 11:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
