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Kunal Kamra row: Why should he apologize? asks Aaditya
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray likened Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) MP's threat to standup artiste Kunal Kamra with the Taliban after his remarks during a show in Mumbai triggered a massive row on Monday. "Yesterday, I saw Kunal Kamra's clip, after the protest, after the vandalism. The question arises when did Eknath Shinde's workers decide that he is a traitor and a thief? Because he has not taken anyone's name, he must have been talking about someone. Why did they get hurt? Will the Chief Minister stop the hooliganism he is doing? The whole country, the whole world knows who the traitor and the thief is," Aaditya Thackeray stated, reported ANI. #WATCH | Mumbai: Shiv Sena-UBT MLA Aaditya Thackeray says, "...Why should Kunal Kamra apologize? If this traitor and thief is Eknath Shinde, then Kunal Kamra must apologize. But Eknath Shinde should first answer whether he is a traitor or a thief."He further says, "On January… pic.twitter.com/dnu7ardrpY — ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2025 "Many times Kunal Kamra has talked about us, about so many people, about Modi sahab as well, but no one reacted like this. The Chief Minister said that those who committed vandalism in Nagpur will be made to compensate for the loss. Will those who vandalized the venue yesterday be made to compensate for the loss? The CM should open his eyes and see who is undermining him. Is it the opposition or his friends?" Aaditya Thackeray said. Aaditya Thackeray questioned whether an international concert would be held after the vandalisation of Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where Kamra's show was filmed. "The words thief and traitor have been spoken in the poem. When did the gang of thieves decide that it is Eknath Shinde? His MP has compared him to a snake. Will the international concert be held after this vandalism? activists have proven that Eknath Shinde is a thief and a traitor," Thackeray said. "I condemn Mhaske; they should not have compared him to a snake. For the first time, it is seen that MPs are threatening, just like the Taliban used to threaten. We are talking about law and order. Who is underlining the Home Department?" he said. Further criticising Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, he said, "The Chief Minister should open his eyes and see who is underlining him." Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday threw his weight behind stand-up artist Kunal Kamra amid the controversy over his remarks, asserting that Kamra's statements were truthful and reflective of public sentiment, as per ANI. Further Thackeray clarified that calling someone a 'gaddar' was not an attack on anyone. "I don't think Kunal Kamra said anything wrong. Calling a 'gaddar' a 'gaddar' is not an attack on anyone. Kunal Kamra has said the truth; he has expressed what people feel," Thackeray said while addressing mediapersons. Defending Kunal Kamra's freedom of expression, Thackeray stated, "He has said the truth, so there is no question of infringement of freedom of expression. Hear the full song (from Kunal Kamra's show) and make others hear it too." Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis slammed Kunal Kamra's remarks against Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, stating that such acts can't be justified as "freedom of speech," reported ANI. (With inputs from ANI)
24 March,2025 04:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mumbai: 71-year-old woman loses Rs 2.15 lakh to cyber fraud
A 71-year-old woman lost Rs 2.15 lakh after she tried to reach out to a repair service through Google search and contacted the number she found. The incident took place on March 19 when the victim, a resident of Lokhandwala, tried to contact a repair service after her sandwich maker machine had broken down. According to the police, the fraudster first asked the victim to pay ₹5 via Google Pay as a service fee, however, as the victim faced difficulties in procedures, the accused asked to share the mobile screen, pretending to assist her. Taking advantage of the shared access, the fraudster gained full control over the device and changed the screen lock. “As soon as the victim granted screen access, the fraudster transferred ₹2.15 lakh from her bank account through multiple transactions. He then changed the phone’s lock PIN and switched off the device, leaving the victim unable to access her phone,” said an officer from Oshiwara police station. Shocked and extremely worried, the victim informed her son, who tried to restart the phone but was unable to do so as its lock PIN was changed. The son then called the bank and blocked the account, preventing further loss, and reported the fraud to the cyber police. A case was registered at the Oshiwara police station based on the complaint filed by the victim. “On the complaint of the woman, we have registered a case under sections 319(2) and 318(4) of BNS and sections 66(D) and 66(C) of the IT Act. Further investigation is underway,” said the officer.
23 March,2025 09:21 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
Bank employee held for embezzling over Rs 2 crore; 5 colleagues absconding
The MIDC police have arrested an employee of a private limited bank for allegedly embezzling more than R2.05 crore through fraudulent transactions. Meanwhile, several other bank employees suspected of involvement in the scam are absconding, and a search operation is underway to track them down. According to police sources, the arrested bank employee has been identified as Sagar Mohan Mishra, who worked as a UPI reconciliation officer at the bank’s branch in Andheri. Mishra was apprehended by the MIDC police team in Andheri on Saturday and was produced before the Bandra Holiday Court on Sunday for remand. Five other bank employees have been identified as key players in the fraud: Rishabh Yadav and Ajay Yadav, who were involved with UPI reconciliation—which deals with verifying and matching UPI transaction data from various sources— Shyamsundar Chauhan from the bank’s partner acquiring unit and Siddhesh Patnaik and Vikky Shinde from the UPI dispute unit. The bank had five major accounts, and at least fifteen employees, including the five accused, were authorised to access these accounts. These employees were responsible for transferring funds as per operational requirements. “Between April 3, 2023, and November 4, 2024, the accused allegedly colluded to fraudulently transfer R2.05 crore from certain bank accounts into third-party accounts without authorisation. When discrepancies were detected, an internal inquiry was conducted, which exposed the involvement of the accused. The bank then lodged an FIR at MIDC police station in January,” said an officer. Investigators revealed that Patnaik, the alleged mastermind used the login credentials of Shinde to transfer funds from the bank’s accounts into the personal accounts of five other bank employees and their relatives. “Once the money was transferred, Patnaik and his accomplices withdrew the cash and distributed it among themselves. Ajay Yadav received R7.17 lakh, Rishabh Yadav R7.36 lakh and Chauhan R1.77 lakh,” an officer said. The arrested accused, Mishra, allegedly demanded R29 lakh from Patnaik in exchange for keeping silent about the fraudulent activities. According to the police, to conceal the trail of fraudulent transactions, Mishra helped Patnaik create a “cell” of bank accounts using the identities of his close friends and relatives. Patnaik then transferred the money into these accounts, making it difficult to trace. Probe underway "We are intensifying efforts to track down Patnaik and other absconding accused. Further investigations are on to identify additional beneficiaries and accomplices involved in the fraud," said another police officer.
23 March,2025 08:56 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
Mumbai
Ten years after murder, absconder held from Gujarat by crime branch
Ten years after being on the run, an absconder in a murder case was held from Gujarat by the Mumbai Crime Branch, the officials said on Sunday, reported the PTI. The accused had been wanted in connection with 2015 murder case, an official said, adding that he was held from Mehsana in Gujarat by the Mumbai Crime Branch. He was identified as Imran Sabir Sheikh and was held by the Anti Extortion Cell of Mumbai Crime Branch from Sidhpur in the neighbouring state, he added, according to the PTI. "In April 2015, Nagpada-resident Riyaz Hussain Abdul Quereshi (44) was murdered allegedly by Waseem Akram Sheikh, Sajid Ali Aashiq Ali Chowdhary and Imran Sheikh. While Wasim and Sajid Ali were apprehended at the time, Imran had fled. He was staying in Gujarat under the new identity of Rahil Sabir Sheikh," the official said, as per the PTI. Shaikh was held following a tip off from reliable sources of Mumbai Crime Branch, the official added. Mumbai Police arrest burglary suspect who was absconding for 20 years Meanwhile, in an another incident, last month, the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai (RAK) Marg Police had arrested a suspect who had been absconding for over 20 years. He was identified as Habibul Baksh Sheikh, a former resident of Sewri. Sheikh was booked and arrested in a burglary case but went missing in 2005 after securing bail. According to the police, Sheikh was initially arrested and lodged in jail but later secured bail and never returned. Despite multiple summonses for court hearings, he failed to appear. In 2005, the court declared him absconding and issued a non-bailable warrant against him. As part of Mumbai Police’s recent drive to apprehend absconding criminals, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ragasudha R. (Zone 4) formed a special team led by Sub-Inspector Pallavi Jadhav to track down Sheikh. During the investigation, police discovered that he had moved out of Mumbai to evade arrest and was living with his family in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district. A team was deployed to UP, and with the assistance of local police, they successfully arrested him. (with PTI inputs)
23 March,2025 04:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Thane court convicts 61-year-old man for sexually assaulting two minor girls
A court in Thane has sentenced a 61-year-old man to three years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting two minor girls from his neighbourhood in 2023. According to PTI, Additional Sessions Judge A S Bhagwat delivered the verdict on 15 March, convicting the accused, Ismail Kalu Shaikh, under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on him. As per PTI reports, Special Public Prosecutor Vivek Kadu informed the court that the incident took place on 30 October 2023 in the Manpada area of Thane city, Maharashtra. The accused allegedly took the two minor girls, aged five and seven at the time, to his residence, where he sexually assaulted them. One of the victims later informed her mother about the ordeal, following which a police complaint was lodged on 1 November 2023. Based on the complaint, law enforcement registered a case against the accused and initiated an investigation. The probe included medical examinations of the victims, a spot panchnama (inspection of the location), and the recording of witness statements. PTI reports that during the trial, seven prosecution witnesses, including the two victims, their parents, a medical officer, and an investigating officer, were examined to establish the charges. The defence argued for leniency, citing Shaikh’s poor financial condition and lack of a prior criminal record. His counsel sought relief under the Probation of Offenders Act, which allows certain convicted individuals to be released on probation rather than being sentenced to imprisonment. However, the court rejected the plea, stressing the seriousness of the crime. Judge Bhagwat stated that the case was not suitable for extending benefits under the Probation of Offenders Act, given the gravity of the offence. The court underscored that the POCSO Act prescribes a statutory minimum punishment for such crimes, and since the prosecution had successfully proven the charges, the accused deserved to be convicted and sentenced accordingly. The court directed that once the fine amount is collected from the convict, Rs 5,000 each should be provided as compensation to the two victims. (With inputs from PTI)
23 March,2025 12:04 PM IST | Mumbai
Hotelier duped of Rs 13 lakh in Thane over fake liquor permit promise
A 48-year-old hotelier from Thane has allegedly been defrauded of Rs 13 lakh by a man posing as an excise department official, who falsely promised to secure a liquor sale license for his establishment, police said on Sunday. According to PTI reports, the accused approached the victim, who runs a hotel in the Kalwa area of Thane, in January last year. Claiming to be an employee of the Maharashtra state excise department in Nashik, he assured the hotelier that he could procure the necessary permit for him in exchange for a fee. Believing the offer to be genuine, the hotelier paid the accused Rs 13 lakh over multiple transactions. However, despite repeated assurances, the victim never received the promised liquor permit. As months passed and the accused failed to deliver on his commitment, the hotelier grew suspicious. Upon confronting the alleged fraudster and demanding a refund, he received evasive responses. Realising that he had been deceived, he approached the Kalwa police station and lodged a complaint. In a similar incident of deception earlier this year, a 75-year-old man in Dombivli was allegedly duped of Rs 30,000 by an unidentified individual who made away with the cash in a public area, according to PTI reports. The incident took place in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official stated. As per police sources, the elderly victim had withdrawn Rs 30,000 from a local bank and was on his way home when the accused approached him. According to the police, the fraudster told the elderly man that his shirt had gotten dirty and advised him to clean it. Unaware of the scam, the senior citizen proceeded to remove his shirt, placing his bag beside him. Taking advantage of the distraction, the accused quickly grabbed the bag and fled with the money. A case has been registered under section 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Law enforcement officials are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the area to identify and apprehend the suspect. In an another shocking case of fraud, police in Maharashtra’s Palghar district have arrested a man who allegedly posed as a Delhi Crime Branch officer and defrauded several women under the pretext of marriage, PTI reports. The accused, identified as 26-year-old Himanshu Yogeshbahi Panchal, was arrested on Tuesday from his hometown in Ahmedabad following an extensive investigation led by Valiv police. According to the authorities, Panchal befriended women through a matrimonial website, pretending to be an officer from the cyber security cell of Delhi Police’s crime branch. He allegedly built trust, promised marriage, and then proceeded to exploit the victims financially and emotionally. One of the victims, who filed the complaint leading to his arrest, alleged that Panchal took her to various hotels and lodges where he sexually assaulted her multiple times under false promises of marriage. Adding to his deception, he even gifted her a fake diamond. (With inputs from PTI)
23 March,2025 09:54 AM IST | Mumbai
Elderly woman dies by suicide in Thane by setting herself ablaze
An 85-year-old woman tragically ended her life by setting herself ablaze in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Sunday. The incident occurred on Friday at Sarvodaya Nagar in Ambernath township, an official confirmed. The deceased, identified as Parvatibai Raghav Ahire, was reportedly distressed with her life. According to PTI reports, she allegedly poured kerosene on herself and ignited the flames at her residence. An official from the Ambernath West police station stated that the incident came to light when her daughter-in-law returned home in the evening and found her burnt and motionless in the balcony. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. The police have registered a case of accidental death, and the body has been sent for postmortem. Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances leading to the tragedy, PTI reports. In a similar incident of 2024, a 61-year-old woman in Thane ended her life by hanging herself, allegedly due to mental harassment by her son and daughter-in-law. The case, which occurred on March 2, saw the police registering an abetment to suicide charge against the accused duo following a complaint filed by the victim's daughter. The deceased, identified as Sushma Vilas Khairnar, reportedly left behind a 12-page suicide note recovered from her residence. According to PTI reports, senior inspector Abhay Mahajan of Naupada police station stated that the victim had been living with her son Rahul and daughter-in-law Gauri since their marriage in 2014. However, her relationship with them was strained. The note and the complaint alleged that she was restricted from moving freely within the house and was even asked to move to a senior citizen’s home. Her daughter, who resided elsewhere, was frequently informed about the ordeal. On March 2, the victim made a distress call to her daughter, stating that she felt her life was in danger and needed to be rescued. Her daughter assured her she would meet her the next day, but before that could happen, Sushma Khairnar was found hanging from the ceiling. She was taken to the hospital, where doctors declared her dead. The police subsequently booked the accused under sections 306 (abetment to suicide), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The investigation in the case is ongoing, as per PTI reports. (With inputs from PTI)
23 March,2025 09:30 AM IST | Mumbai
Mumbai Police save Rs 1.49 crore from cyber frauds in past 24 hours
Mumbai Police on Saturday said that its cyber crime cell was successful in saving Rs 1.49 crore from being swindled in cyber crimes within just 24 hours of being reported to the official helpline number, 1930. According to the police, on March 21, various complaints were received through the 1930 helpline, primarily involving investment frauds, share trading scams, fake online shopping, and WhatsApp impersonation frauds. The police said that within 24 hours, the police were able to freeze the fraudulent amount of Rs 1,49,87,376 across multiple bank accounts. The quick action by police officials from Mumbai cyber crime cell, including Police Inspector Mangesh Bhor, Sub-Inspector Abhijeet Raut, and others, helped coordinate with concerned banks and authorities to prevent the funds from being transferred to fraudsters. The efforts were supervised by senior police officers. A police official said that Mumbai Police urge citizens to contact the helpline -- 1930 immediately if they become victims of cyber crimes to recover lost funds. In an advisory for the citizens, the police said that the public should be cautious and avoid falling victim to share trading and other investment frauds which are currently on the rise. The police said that the citizens are encouraged not to download trading apps from suspicious sources, verify websites before investing, and be careful when responding to offers promising huge profits on social media platforms. Mumbai Police has urged citizens to avoid being trapped by cyber fraudsters on social media platforms. The police also shared the following guidelines to be safe from online frauds- - Do not download share trading apps through any APK files and ensure to verify the authenticity of websites or webpages before engaging in trading.- Verify share trading advertisements on platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram, and exercise caution before making any investments.- Verify any payment requests received via WhatsApp. Ensure the legitimacy of requests for money, payments, or sensitive information, and only proceed after proper verification (such as calling the known number or confirming via email).The police said that to avoid WhatsApp impersonation fraud, citizens should take the following precautions:-Do not trust unexpected messages requesting money transfers on WhatsApp. If such messages are received from known or trusted individuals, do not take any further action without proper verification.- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Go to WhatsApp settings and activate 2FA. This will help block unauthorised access by unknown individuals. "It is requested to citizens who fall victim to cyber fraud to immediately contact the 1930 Cyber Helpline timely so that their defrauded amount can be saved," an official said.
22 March,2025 05:21 PM IST | Mumbai | Asif Rizvi
Mumbai: 4-year-old child murdered in Kandivali; body found abandoned nearby
Kandivali was shaken by a horrific incident in which a 4-year-old child was kidnapped and brutally murdered. According to police sources, the suspect, who arrived on a bicycle, abducted the child and later drowned him. After committing the crime, the suspect returned to the scene and abandoned the child’s body approximately 30 meters away from where the victim’s family was sleeping before fleeing. Police have launched a thorough investigation and are actively scanning CCTV footage from the area to identify and track down the suspect. The deceased child, who lived with his parents in Kandivali East, had visited his maternal grandmother's house in Iraniwadi, Kandivali West, a day before the incident. His grandmother, who resides on the footpath, was with him when he was abducted. Around 2 a.m., an unidentified individual arrived on a bicycle and kidnapped the child while he was sleeping next to his grandmother. About half an hour later, the suspect returned and abandoned the child’s body near a construction site, a short distance from his maternal grandfather’s location, before escaping. A preliminary investigation and medical reports confirm that the child died due to drowning. Police suspect that the accused deliberately killed the child by submerging him in water. The suspect's image has been captured on CCTV, and multiple police teams have been deployed to track him down. DCP Anand Bhoite of Zone XI has confirmed the incident.
22 March,2025 01:25 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
Thane court sentences man to life imprisonment in 2016 murder case
A court in Maharashtra's Thane district has sentenced a 30-year-old man to life imprisonment for the murder of a man in 2016, reported news agency PTI. Additional sessions judge A N Sirsikar convicted the accused, Ajay Lalbahaddur Vishwakarma, of the charges under section 302 (murder) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to life imprisonment and a five-year rigorous imprisonment term, reported PTI. The sentences will run concurrently, the court ordered. The court, however, acquitted Sanjay Firatlal Goutam, a co-accused in the case, citing lack of conclusive evidence against him. A copy of the order passed on Thursday was made available on Saturday. Additional public prosecutor Rekha Hiwrale informed the court that on July 27, 2016, the victim, Jay Prajapati, went missing after informing his father that he was at Bhayandar railway station, reported PTI. She said messages were sent from Prajapati's mobile phone, demanding Rs 15 lakh for his release. However, despite efforts by his family and the police, the victim could not be traced, and his body was later discovered wrapped in a motorcycle cover in the mangroves. The prosecution said the forensic investigation and digital evidence linked Vishwakarma to the crime. At least 16 prosecution witnesses, including the victim's kin and medical officers, were examined during the trial, she said. The court noted that key prosecution witnesses testified after a six-year delay, leading to some discrepancies, reported PTI. However, judge Sirsikar observed that minor inconsistencies should not undermine the credibility of the evidence. The court ruled that while the prosecution failed to prove the ransom demand and the involvement of the second accused, it successfully established that Vishwakarma had a motive to kill Prajapati due to personal enmity. He highlighted that the discovery of the deceased's body at the instance of the accused and the extra-judicial confession before a witness played a crucial role in securing the conviction, reported PTI. The judge, in his order, ruled that the case did not fall under the 'rarest of rare' category warranting capital punishment. The court acquitted the co-accused, Sanjay Firatlal Goutam, stating that his mere presence at railway stations captured in CCTV footage was insufficient to establish his role in the crime. (With inputs from PTI)
22 March,2025 12:56 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Thane man cheated of Rs 67.65 lakh in online share trading fraud
A 53-year-old man from Maharashtra's Thane district was allegedly cheated of Rs 67.65 lakh by cyber fraudsters who lured him to invest in online share trading, police said on Saturday, reported news agency PTI. The police registered a first information report (FIR) under relevant provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act on Thursday and have identified three persons involved in the fraud only through their mobile phone numbers, an official said, reported PTI. He said the complainant has alleged that the accused contacted him in December 2024 and convinced him to invest in share trading by promising him high returns. The accused provided a trading application to the man and instructed him to transfer money to different bank accounts, the official said. He said the complainant transferred Rs 67.65 lakh over multiple online transactions till January 2025. However, when the man later sought to withdraw his profits or the original investment, the fraudsters stopped responding, the official added. "We have registered an FIR under the IT Act, and efforts are underway to track down the accused through their mobile numbers and bank transaction details," a senior police officer said. Assistant manager of bank duped of Rs 1.35 cr in online stock market investment scam A 45-year-old assistant general manager with the Export Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) was duped by fraudsters of Rs 1.35 crore by luring her into making 'investment' in the stock market through bogus apps, police said on Friday, reported news agency PTI. While the cheating took place between December 9, 2024, to February 25, 2025, the woman filed a complaint with the Cyber Police Station two days ago, said an official. According to the complainant, unidentified persons added her mobile number to two WhatsApp groups where purported tips about stock market investment were shared. After a few days, the 'admin' of the groups called her, and told her that she could make a handsome profit if she installed mobile apps 'QuantsAIS' and 'Angel One' and purchased shares through them, reported PTI. The woman followed the advice. 'Service executives' of both the apps then called her, and asked her to deposit money in certain bank accounts for investing in the stock market. She transferred as much as Rs 1.35 crore. The apps displayed the amount she had deposited, and she could also see that her investment was 'growing', the complainant told police. As of February, the apps showed that she had made a profit of Rs 6 crore. But when she called executives of both the apps and asked them to return the principal amount of Rs 1.35 crore, they said they could not do so immediately and gave various reasons, reported PTI. After repeated demands, they stopped responding to her calls. At this point the woman realized that she had been duped. A case was registered and further probe was underway, the official said. (With inputs from PTI)
22 March,2025 12:28 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent