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Kunal Kamra row
Shiv Sena files complaint with EOW, demands probe on Kamra's funding
The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has filed a complaint with the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against comedian Kunal Kamra, demanding an investigation into his funding, the officials said on Wednesday. The complaint alleged that the funds are being used to target Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, they said. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police has issued a third summons to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra asking him to appear on April 5 in a case registered against him for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The summons was issued on Tuesday and Kamra was asked to appear at the Khar police station where FIR was registered against him last month. Earlier, he had been summoned twice by the police but Kamra failed to join the investigation, said an official. During his performance at the Habitat Comedy Club at the Unicontinental hotel in Khar area, Kamra had referred to Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, as a "traitor" and went on to sing a parody of him. A video of it was also posted online. Enraged over the comments, Shiv Sena workers had ransacked the venue of Kamra's show.
03 April,2025 01:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan Khan
Man sets woman's house on fire after dispute over obstructed lane in Borivali
In a shocking incident in Mumbai's Borivali, a man allegedly set fire to a woman’s house after a dispute over obstructing the lane used by passersby, the officials said on Wednesday. The incident took place in Bhim Nagar, Lane No. 5 of Gorai area in Borivali West. According to police sources, the altercation began on March 31 at around 11 pm when the suspect, identified as Vishal Udhamle, was sitting on a chair in the middle of the lane near Sagar Tarang Building, obstructing passersby. The victim, Laxmi Bontla, a resident of the area, requested him to move the chair, which led to a heated argument between the two. The verbal spat soon escalated into abuse, with Vishal growing furious over the confrontation, sources said. However, Vishal did not let the matter rest there. In the early hours of April 1, around 2:30 am, he allegedly returned with petrol, sprinkled it on Laxmi’s house, and set it ablaze. At the time of the incident, Laxmi was not inside at the time, an official said. The entire act was caught on CCTV cameras installed in the area, which captured Vishal pouring petrol and igniting the fire. Following the incident, Vishal allegedly threatened other residents, warning them of severe consequences if they reported the crime, creating a sense of panic among locals. Based on Laxmi’s complaint, the police registered a case against Vishal under relevant sections of the BNS Act and has arrested him. During the interrogation, it was revealed that the accused had come to his in-laws' house and got angry after the woman interrupted and quarrelled with him. He felt insulted at his in-laws' house, and in anger, he committed this act, said an officer from Borivali police. The accused has been arrested and remanded to police custody, he added further.
02 April,2025 09:53 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
Mumbai Customs seize drugs worth Rs 17.89 crore at airport
Mumbai Customs on Wednesday said that its officers at Mumbai airport has seized drugs worth Rs 17.89 crore at the Mumbai airport. An official statement from the Mumbai Customs department said that the officials intercepted a passenger carrying approximately 1.789 kgs of suspected cocaine, with an illicit market value of Rs. 17.89 crore. The seizure was made on Tuesday where a passenger was arrested in connection with the case, it said. According to the Mumbai Customs, the suspect had arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) airport from Nairobi via Doha. "Based on spot profiling, the passenger was intercepted for an examination. During the inspection of the luggage, the customs officials discovered a white powdered substance hidden in a false cavity inside the passenger's trolley bag. The substance tested positive for cocaine, weighing around 1789 grams and valued at Rs. 17.89 crore," said the officials. They said that the suspect was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
02 April,2025 08:59 PM IST | Mumbai | Faizan Khan
Man, his driver booked for allegedly raping woman in Thane
The Thane Police in Maharashtra have registered a case against a man and his driver for allegedly raping a 19-year-old woman in Thane district on a false promise of job, an official said on Wednesday, reported the PTI. The prime accused in the case is a resident of Thakurli near Dombivli in Thane district and is known for his reels or short videos on social media platform Instagram, he said, according to the PTI. The victim, who is from Nashik, alleged in her complaint lodged at the Manpada police station that the suspect sexually assaulted her between February 16 and March 29 this year on the false promise of providing her a job at the Mumbai airport. The woman said she befriended the suspect on social media. Once he invited her to his office, but when she went there, he threatened her with a gun and sexually assaulted her. He also threatened to kill her parents, the FIR said, according to the PTI. On March 29, he threatened to release the audio and video recordings of his conversations and acts involving her on social media. He tried to force her to get into his office, molested her and attacked her when she resisted. When she was leaving his office, he and his driver subjected her to a humiliating search and stripped her, as per the PTI. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case against the man who was identified as Surendra Patil and his driver under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 64 (rape), 74 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(2) (criminal conspiracy) and 3(5) (common intention) and sections of the Arms Act, the official said, the news agency reported. Patil has denied the allegations, and claimed that the complaint was false and it was a ploy to extort money, the PTI reported. Patil was already under investigation for allegedly misusing a licensed firearm, filming reels while sitting in a senior police officer's chair at the Manpada police station, and displaying large amount of money in his videos, police sources said, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
02 April,2025 06:45 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
DRI destroys 9.49 acres of illegally cultivated cannabis in Dhule
In a major operation, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Mumbai, in collaboration with its Pune and Nagpur regional units, on Wednesday destroyed illegally cultivated cannabis in 9.49 acres of land in Dhule district of Maharashtra, the officials said. They said that acting on specific intelligence, officers of the DRI identified illicit cannabis farms in Khamkheda Ambe and Rohini villages in Dhule which is situated along the Madhya Pradesh–Maharashtra border. Following extensive surveillance, the suspicious sites were investigated and DRI's action was followed, an official said.The DRI officers sought the assistance of the concerned district administration and judicial magistrate. "Upon investigation, seven sites covering a total area of 9.493 acres were discovered to be cultivating cannabis illegally. Notably, the use of drip irrigation indicated a well-organised operation designed to maximise yield. Gunny bags filled with dried ganja were found strewn across the fields, further substantiating the illicit activity," said an official.In the presence of the judicial magistrate, the sites were thoroughly measured, and geo-tagged photographs were taken to document the findings, the officials said. Land records for all seven locations were subsequently traced with the help of the district administration, revealing that the plots had been encroached upon and illegally utilised for cannabis cultivation and in accordance with Section 48 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the illegally cultivated cannabis fields were subjected to official attachment and destruction, an official statement said.A total of 96,049 cannabis plants spanning 9.493 acres were uprooted and destroyed. Around 420.39 kg of ganja, which was recovered from gunny bags found at the sites, was seized under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985, the officials said.The NDPS Act strictly prohibits the cultivation, possession, sale, purchase, and consumption of narcotic and psychotropic substances. Any violation of the law can result in severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment for up to 20 years, an official DRI statement said.
02 April,2025 03:30 PM IST | Mumbai | Faizan Khan
Thane police register case against three for duping investors of Rs 1.51 crore
A case has been registered against three individuals in Thane for allegedly defrauding a 54-year-old housewife and eleven other investors by luring them with promises of high returns. According to PTI reports, the investors collectively lost a total of Rs 1,51,45,838 in the fraudulent schemes, which took place between 2015 and 2019. As per PTI, no arrests have been made in connection with the case so far. The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged earlier this week at the Thane Nagar police station under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant, banker, merchant, or agent), and 406 (criminal breach of trust). Additionally, provisions of the Maharashtra Protection of Interests of Depositors (MPID) Act have also been invoked against the accused. The accused have been identified as Ravindra Pandurang Jadhav (Chairman), Sahadev Waman Karangutkar (Director), and Rajesh Dattaram Parte (Director). According to PTI reports, they allegedly defrauded the complainants through their companies, Cambridge Infra Properties Pvt Ltd and Sri Siddhivinayak Multistate Agro and Allied Co-operative Society. As per the complaint, the accused encouraged investors to place their funds in various schemes between February 2015 and July 2019, promising substantial returns. However, when investors attempted to withdraw their money, the accused allegedly failed to honour their commitments and became unresponsive. In a similar incident of deception earlier this year, 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. 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. (With inputs from PTI)
02 April,2025 01:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Thane: Man held for wife's murder in Kashimira area
The police on Wednesday said that a 22-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife in Kashimira area of the Thane district, reported news agency PTI. Pappu Rathod allegedly strangulated his wife Nasreen Rathod (28) at home on Monday evening, reported PTI. Based on a complaint filed by one of the neighbours, police registered an FIR under section 103(1) (murder) of the BNS. The motive behind the murder is yet to be ascertained, the official said. 13-year-old boy held for woman's murder In another incident, Jalna Police has detected the murder case of a 41-year-old woman with the detention of a 13-year-old boy, an official said on Wednesday, reported PTI. Meera alias Sandhya Bondare was found to have been stoned to death in her fields at Antarwali Tembhi village in Jalna tehsil on March 25, reported PTI. During the probe, police found that the woman had scolded a boy in the neighbourhood because he had been stopping water from a channel from reaching her fields. On one occasion, she threw his mobile phone in the water in a fit of rage, reported PTI. Holding a grudge, the boy allegedly bludgeoned her to death with a stone when she was asleep in her fields on the afternoon of March 25. He confessed to the crime, the official said, adding he would be produced before a Juvenile Justice Board. Woman's body found stuffed in sack in river at Palghar The body of an unidentified woman was found stuffed in a sack dumped in a river in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Tuesday, police said, reported PTI. Villagers alerted the police in the morning about a sack floating in the Wagh River in Ghatkarpada on the Nashik-Mokhda-Jawhar Road, an official said. He said the police team found the decomposed body of a woman in her 20s in the sack. The body has been sent for post-mortem, the official said, adding that a case was registered under sections 103(1)(murder) and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. He said that it appears that the woman was strangled, and her body was packed in a sack and dumped in the river. A probe has been initiated, the official said. (With inputs from PTI)
02 April,2025 11:43 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Mumbai: Four acquitted in 2009 Dombivli bank heist case after 16-year trial
In a significant ruling, a court in Thane has acquitted four men accused of involvement in a bank heist that took place in Dombivli 16 years ago, citing lack of conclusive evidence against them. According to PTI, the court observed that the prosecution had failed to establish their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. A copy of the court’s order, issued on March 24, was made available on Tuesday. The case dates back to 13 November 2009, when three unidentified men entered the Union Bank of India branch on Manpada Road, brandishing weapons and threatening the bank staff. The robbers managed to flee with Rs 5,88,700 in cash. As per PTI, they also forced a woman employee to surrender her gold ring and mobile phone before making their escape. Following the incident, the police launched an investigation and registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Soon after, four individuals, Sunil Bajirao Atangale (53), Sham Balasaheb Thombre (47), Kiran Bhalchandra Borase, and Manik Shamrao Wagh (47) were arrested. All four were residents of the Kalyan-Dombivli area. However, after nearly 16 years of legal proceedings, the court ruled in their favour, highlighting inconsistencies in witness testimonies. Defence lawyers Sagar Kolhe, Nitin Bhune, and Amol Joshi, who represented the accused, argued that there was no concrete evidence linking their clients to the crime. According to PTI reports, the defence contended that the prosecution’s case was built on circumstantial evidence, which was insufficient to establish guilt under the law. Special MCOCA Judge A N Sirsikar, while delivering the verdict, noted discrepancies in the statements of prosecution witnesses and concluded that the evidence presented did not conclusively prove the accused’s involvement in the crime. Consequently, all four accused were acquitted, receiving the benefit of the doubt. While the 2009 case resulted in an acquittal due to lack of evidence, another bank heist in Thane, which occurred in 2022, took a different turn, with the prime accused arrested after months of evading authorities. According to PTI reports, the police apprehended 43-year-old Altaf Shaikh, the main accused in a Rs 12 crore cash theft from ICICI Bank in Thane’s Manpada area. Shaikh was arrested in Pune after more than two and a half months of pursuit. Law enforcement officials have so far recovered approximately Rs 9 crore of the stolen amount. Shaikh, a resident of Mumbra, was a custodian at ICICI Bank and had access to the locker keys. Investigators revealed that he meticulously planned the heist over a year, identifying loopholes in the security system and collecting tools to execute the theft. On 12 July 2022, he deactivated the bank’s alarm system, sabotaged CCTV footage, and used an enlarged air conditioning duct to pass the stolen cash down a garbage chute, PTI reports. The theft came to light when bank personnel discovered missing security funds and realised that the CCTV digital video recorder (DVR) had also been stolen. Shaikh immediately went into hiding, frequently changing his appearance and even using a burqa to evade arrest. Authorities later arrested his sister, Neelofer, after discovering that she had concealed some of the stolen money in her home. She was booked as a co-accused in the case. (With inputs from PTI)
02 April,2025 10:58 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mumbai Police issue third summons to Kunal Kamra, ask him to appear on April 5
The officials said that the Mumbai Police has issued a third summons to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra asking him to appear on April 5 in a case registered against him for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, reported news agency PTI. The summons was issued on Tuesday and Kamra (36) was asked to appear at the Khar police station where a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him last month, they said, reported PTI. He had been summoned twice by the police earlier but failed to join the investigation, the officials said. The case stems from a parody song performed by Kamra at a show in Mumbai which appeared to target Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena following his rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, and call him a traitor. The song, though, did not name Shinde, reported PTI. Angry Shiv Sena activists last month vandalised the studio where the show had been recorded. The Khar police registered an FIR against Kamra on a complaint by a Sena MLA under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections pertaining to defamation and public mischief. On Monday, a Khar police team visited Kamra's house in Mumbai's Mahim area, where his family lives, to find out whether he would appear before the police, officials said. On March 28, the Madras High Court granted interim anticipatory bail to the comedian. Justice Sunder Mohan also issued a notice to Khar police and posted the matter to April 7 for further hearing. Kunal Kamra had approached the Madras High Court to seek transit anticipatory bail, claiming he has been receiving many threats following his recent satirical comments. Mumbai Police are investigating allegations that before making a mockery of former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Kamra had made satirical remarks about several other noted personalities. According to the police, if the investigation reveals that the stand-up artist in question has previously made satirical comments about any politician, actor, or sportsperson, then action will be taken against him. Kamra recently sparked a row with his "gaddar" (traitor) joke, allegedly aimed at Eknath Shinde. Several political leaders condemned his remarks during a stand-up show and demanded action against him. (With inputs from PTI)
02 April,2025 10:36 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mumbai
Drug smuggler wanted in Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana escapes from Dahisar to US
The Dahisar police are under the scanner for clearing the passport of an interstate drug smuggler wanted in Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, thereby helping him to flee to the US. The cops have arrested the man who helped him prepare fake documents. According to sources, Rajinder Gurbachan Singh, also known as Jinder, was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment in 2020 and was lodged in Patiala jail in Punjab. However, after being released on parole in 2022, he absconded with his family and settled in a rented house in Dahisar, Mumbai. It is alleged that, with the assistance of his landlord, Satish Dhakne, Jinder procured fake documents, including an Aadhaar and PAN card. Using these, he reportedly obtained a passport, which ultimately enabled him to flee the country. Matter comes to light Last month, the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) of the Haryana police, led by ASI Rajesh Kumar and his team, discovered during a routine patrol that a pickup vehicle was being used for drug transportation. The police arrested two accused, one of whom was later identified as Jagseer Singh alias Jagga from Chhajli village in the Sangrur district. Upon searching the vehicle, the team seized 4 kg of heroin. Further investigation and interrogation of the accused led to the revelation of Jinder’s name. A case was registered against the accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Tohana City police station. “During the search for the accused, we come to know that Jinder had escaped to the US via Dubai with his family. The CIA team managed to obtain his file number and discovered that his passport was issued in 2023 from Dahisar,” a source from the CIA unit said. During the interrogation of the arrested accused, it was revealed that they worked as couriers, delivering drugs on behalf of Jinder to locations specified by him. The operation was meticulously planned so that the courier and the recipient never knew each other. The courier would only provide details, such as the vehicle number and a description of their appearance, to the recipient to facilitate the handover. The investigation A police team led by ASI Rajesh Kumar arrived in Dahisar and, upon verification, found that Jinder, along with his wife Baljeet and their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, had stayed at a rented house at Sahdev Pandey chawl, in Laxminagar, Dharkhadi,” said a source. “The rent agreement was made between Jinder and Dhakne for 24 months, from November 9, 2021, to November 8, 2023. Jinder and his wife’s Aadhaar cards were originally issued in Haryana in 2012, but their address was changed on January 20, 202,3 to the Dahisar residence to facilitate the passport application,” he added. Other documents used for making the passport included the rent agreement, the owner’s NOC, birth certificates, Aadhaar and PAN cards and a passbook from a multinational bank in Dahisar. “Apart from Jinder and his daughter’s birth certificates, the investigation revealed that Jinder’s wife’s birth certificate originally belonged to someone else and had been tampered with to reflect the name Baljeet Kaur,” the source stated. Jinder had the rent agreement prepared for the passport with a backdated entry of November 9, 2021, in connivance with the landlord. However, Haryana police records revealed that at that time, he was in Patiala jail and was only released on parole in 2022.” said a source. “As soon as the matter came to the notice of the Dahisar police, they launched an investigation and found that Jinder had forged documents with the help of the landlord, who had knowingly assisted him. Therefore, on March 26, the police, acting as the complainant, registered a case against Dhakne, Jinder and his wife under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, along with Section 12 of the Passport Act. “Dhakne, was arrested on March 26, while the search for Jinder and his wife is ongoing,” said an officer from Dahisar police station. ‘Several cases’ CIA officer ASI Rajesh Kumar said, “Jinder has been involved in more than seven cases of drug smuggling, for which he has been jailed multiple times. We have issued a red-corner notice so that the accused can be arrested soon.” Dahisar police sources said an investigation has been initiated on the instructions of senior officials regarding the issuance of the passport and the verification process conducted by the police. Senior Police Inspector Ashok Honmane said the investigation is still in its initial stages, so not much could be disclosed at present.
02 April,2025 08:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
Did it for son’s treatment, says man caught assisting illegal Bangladeshis
Badshah Khan, the 42-year-old coconut seller who was arrested by the Ahmedabad police in January for allegedly helping Bangladeshi nationals obtain official Indian documents, told the police that he did so to pay for his son’s treatment. During the investigation, the police discovered that Khan’s 19-year-old son, who suffers from thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder, was the reason for Khan’s involvement. Khan assisted illegal Bangladeshi immigrants for a fee of Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 per person and used the money to pay for his son’s medical treatment. Bollywood actors also assisted with the son’s treatment. After hearing the emotional story, the Ahmedabad police also provided financial help to his wife. Speaking to mid-day, Badshah Khan’s wife, Aisha Khan, said, “The Ahmedabad police have arrested my husband. I begged them to release him for the sake of our son. We sold everything, including our home, car, and shop, for my son’s treatment. We are raising more money for his treatment, and his surgery in Germany will cost several crore rupees. My husband committed this crime only for our son. I am in Ahmedabad, struggling to get bail for him in this case.” Badshah Khan has been a coconut vendor at DN Nagar in Andheri West for the past 21 years. His son’s daily treatment expenses amount to Rs 2500. A police officer said, “In order to fund his son’s treatment, Khan sold his home, car, and shop. When he exhausted all options, Khan approached an actor’s trust, which provided financial support for the treatment.” A few days ago, the Ahmedabad Special Operations Group (SOG) arrested Furkhan Shaikh, who was travelling from Ahmedabad airport to Malaysia. During an immigration checkpoint check, Shaikh was found to have documents claiming he was a Bangladeshi citizen. In the alleged passport, the Ahmedabad police found a residential address in Andheri West, where Badshah Khan resides. The investigation revealed that Badshah Khan had helped Shaikh obtain an Indian passport by creating fake Indian citizen documents and also assisted two other Bangladeshi citizens. During the investigation, the police also discovered that Khan had forged three birth certificates for the Bangladeshi nationals, which were purportedly issued by Thane Civil Hospital. Using these fake birth certificates, he provided his residential address to create Aadhaar cards and PAN cards for the Bangladeshi nationals, and these documents were later used to obtain Indian passports. While talking to mid-day, Police Inspector S M Trivedi from the Special Operations Group (SOG) in Ahmedabad said, “Badshah Khan was arrested by the DN Nagar police in January and was released on bail. A few days ago, 27-year-old Furkhan Shaikh was caught at Ahmedabad airport by the immigration officers. It was found that he was a Bangladeshi citizen and used fake documents to obtain an Indian passport. We also recovered documents from his mobile phone.” “In the investigation, Khan revealed to us that his son is suffering from thalassemia, and that in two days he needs blood. His daily treatment costs Rs 2500. Khan admitted that he helped Bangladeshi citizens to earn money for his son’s medical treatments. Our team also provided financial assistance to Khan’s wife. We arrested Khan for his crimes, and one more accused is still wanted in this case,” PI Trivedi further explained. In January, Badshah Khan was arrested by the DN Nagar police after 27-year-old Hannan Bishwas was arrested with an Indian passport obtained using fake documents. During the investigation, police found that Badshah Khan had helped him and also provided him with a job and accommodation in India.
02 April,2025 07:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish Vaktania