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Mumbai Police use AI to track Mulund resident’s stolen phone; two arrested
The Mulund Police in Mumbai used Artifical Intelligence to trace a stolen phone. The cops also apprehended two accused for the theft. The theft came to light on Tuesday after the complainant, Kunal Rathod, 36, approached the police. "He said that around 11.30 pm, some unknown people stole his phone and then fled the spot using a two-wheeler," an officer said. The police registered a first information report (FIR) and formed a team to scrutinise the CCTV footage of the area to identify the accused. “One team was scrutinising the CCTV footage while another used Artificial Intelligence to track the location of the stolen phone," the officer stated. The police had requested the passwords of the complainant’s Google account and then tracked the location of the phone. “We had requested the complainant to provide us with the password of his email id. After getting all the necessary information, we used the Google dashboard to trace the location of the stolen phone,” the officer added. The police then arrested Mujammil Mulani, 26, and Bisuraj Adhikari, 29, from Mumbra, and booked them under Section 309 (robbery) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
29 March,2025 07:19 PM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva Agashe
Two held for stealing laptops worth Rs 23.4 lakh from godown in Bhiwandi
Two people were arrested from Karnataka in connection with laptop thefts in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Saturday. According to news agency PTI, the police apprehended the accused — Dileep Basavraj Chavan, 20, and Arjun Munne Rathod, 23 — from Yadgir for allegedly stealing laptops worth Rs 23.4 lakh from the godown in the Narpoli area of Bhiwandi on March 7, an officer said. Miscreants broke into the godown and allegedly decamped with 26 laptops worth Rs 23.4 lakh, Senior Inspector Janardhan Sonawane said. A first information report (FIR) was registered under sections 303(2) (theft), 331(3) (house trespass) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, he added. According to PTI, the police examined the CCTV footage and the technical and intelligence inputs and zeroed in on the accused. The police have recovered the stolen laptops and a motorcycle used in the crime, said Sonawane, adding that a probe is underway to nab the others involved in the theft. Thane: Cyber cops recover Rs 90 lakh after phishers target travel agency’s accountant Maharashtra Cyber successfully recovered Rs 90 lakh lost in a whale phishing attack where a Bhiwandi-based travel agency was targeted. The agency’s accountant fell victim to cybercriminals who impersonated the firm’s owner via WhatsApp, pressuring him into transferring the amount in a single transaction. Upon realising the fraud, the company promptly reported the case on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. “Maharashtra Cyber immediately took action, coordinating with banks and financial intermediaries to freeze the transaction, preventing the funds from reaching the cybercriminals. The process of refunding the amount to the victim is currently underway,” Maharashtra Cyber said in a statement. This intervention is part of broader efforts under the Maharashtra Cyber Security Project, which operates from its state-of-the-art Cyber Headquarters in Mahape, Navi Mumbai. A key feature of the project is its 24x7 Command and Control Centre, staffed by over 100 cyber analysts, and two dedicated cyber helplines (Dial 1930 and Dial 1945) to assist citizens in real-time. In the past 48 hours alone, Maharashtra Cyber has resolved five cyber fraud complaints, successfully freezing a total of Rs 1.475 crore. “The department continues to urge citizens to remain vigilant while conducting online transactions and to report cyber fraud immediately via Dial 1945 or 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal,” the statement read. What is whale phishing? Also known as a whaling attack, or whaling, this is a type of phishing attack that targets high-level corporate officers with fraudulent emails, text messages or phone calls, according to IBM.com (With PTI inputs)
29 March,2025 06:56 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Panvel Police arrest 27-year-old for fatally shooting man three days ago
The Panvel City Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of a 45-year-old man near Garade village in Raigad district of Maharashtra. The incident had occurred on Wednesday, around 4.30 pm, when an unidentified assailant shot dead Baburao Waghmare. A complaint in the case was registered at Panvel City Police Station by Shivaji Bansi Bhadarge, 40, a construction worker residing in Pargaon in Raigad district. Under the supervision of senior police officers, five teams were formed to track down the accused. Investigations led to the identification of the suspect as Prabhakar Janardan Vaghe, alias Chillya, 27, a resident of Koli Koper in Panvel. Acting on a tip-off, the police traced Vaghe to a tribal settlement in Khalapur in Raigad district of Maharashtra, where he was arrested with assistance from local authorities. During interrogation, Vaghe allegedly confessed to the crime, revealing that Waghmare was attacked because he intervened in an ongoing dispute. The accused was presented before a court which remanded him in police custody until April 3. Further investigation into the case is underway.
29 March,2025 06:53 PM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva Agashe
Saif Ali Khan's attacker seeks bail, says he was booked in false case
The 30-year-old Bangladeshi national arrested for allegedly stabbing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his house in Bandra has applied for bail, claiming that a false case has been registered against him, reported news agency PTI. In a plea before the sessions court on Friday, the accused, Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, claimed that "the first information report is patently false and a false case has been registered against him", reported PTI. Khan (54) was stabbed multiple times with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th-floor apartment in upscale Bandra on January 16. He underwent an emergency surgery at the Lilavati Hospital. The police arrested Shariful two days after the attack. The accused, in the plea, claimed his arrest was illegal, as the investigating agency had "clearly and blatantly disregarded" section 47 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), reported PTI. Section 47 pertains to informing a person about the grounds of his arrest and right to bail. The plea stated that even if the witnesses' statements are taken as gospel truth, without admitting anything on record, for the sake of arguments, it won't be able to fulfil the ingredient of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) section 311 (robbery or dacoity committed with the intent to cause death or grievous hurt), reported PTI. Shariful, in the plea filed through Ajay Gawali, said all the necessary recovery and discovery was done, the investigation is practically complete, and the mere filing of the chargesheet is pending. The bail plea stated that the accused has cooperated with the investigation and "no useful purpose will be served by detaining him further in custody". The plea will be heard on April 1. (With inputs from PTI)
29 March,2025 02:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Disha was depressed due to father's misuse of money: Police closure report
The Mumbai police's closure report in the Disha Salian death case had termed it a suicide and asserted she was battling depression due to various reasons, including misuse of her money by her father, an official has said, reported news agency PTI. Disha Salian was a former manager of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. She allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the 12th floor of her building in Jankalyan Nagar in north Mumbai's Malad area on June 8, 2020, as per police. The closure report by Malvani police, which probed the incident, was submitted to a superior officer (as per rules for an accidental death report) on February 4, 2021, reported PTI. The official on Friday said as part of the probe, Malvani police recorded statements of Disha's friends and some witnesses, during which it came to light that she was depressed due to some failed projects, misunderstanding with friends and misuse of her money by her father, reported PTI. The police had also recorded statements of actors with whom Disha Salian was communicating on behalf of her company, he added. After the case got entangled in an acrimonious tussle between political parties, the Mumbai police set up a Special Investigation Team, though its report is still awaited, reported PTI. Last week, Disha's father, Satish Salian, approached the Bombay High Court seeking a fresh probe into the mysterious circumstances under which she was found dead in June 2020, reported PTI. He also urged the HC to order the registration of a first information report (FIR) against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and transfer the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation. (With inputs from PTI)
29 March,2025 12:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Navi Mumbai crime branch arrests three bookies for IPL 2025 betting
The Navi Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested three bookies for allegedly accepting bets on the Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders match in the IPL 2025. The arrests took place on March 26, following a raid at a rented flat in a housing society in Sanpada. According to officials, the accused had rented a room—C-103 in Akhurath Housing Society, located at Plot Number 11, Sector-14, Sanpada—specifically for betting operations. The arrested individuals have been identified as Shankar Suresh Kothekar (35), a resident of Nagpur, Sandip Narayan Devgade (35), and Bharat Murlidhar Rude (20), both residents of Yavatmal. During the raid, the Crime Branch seized a laptop, a tablet, 11 mobile phones, an LED TV, and other valuables worth Rs 2,66,950. The Crime Branch acted on a tip-off regarding illegal betting activities linked to the IPL match. Under the supervision of DCP Amit Kale and ACP Ajay Kumar Landge, a special team was formed to apprehend the culprits. The team included Senior Inspector Niraj Chaudhary from Crime Branch Unit-1, API Nilesh Bankar, PSI Prashant Kumbhar, and constables Vishwas Pawar, Ashok Khaire, Dipak Patil, Ajay Wagh, Laxman Koparkar, Vishwas Bhoir, Anjali Vishe, and Ravindra Sanap. On March 26, the Crime Branch conducted a raid at the suspected location, seized the valuables, and arrested the bookies. An FIR has been registered against the accused at Sanpada Police Station, and further investigations are being carried out by Crime Branch Unit-1 to uncover more details about the betting network.
29 March,2025 11:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish Vaktania
Mumbai: Gym brawl over triceps rope leaves man injured in Goregaon
A dispute over exercise equipment for triceps at a gym in Goregaon East escalated into violence, leading to one person being badly injured after he was beaten up by three other gym members. The 25-year-old victim, identified as Gaurav Mishra, an architect by profession, was allegedly bashed up by three people inside the Youmania Fitness gym in Goregaon East on March 25. The accused were booked by the Vanrai police and have been identified as Raj Mutthu, Love Shinde, and Kartik Ameen. According to the police, on the day of the incident, while preparing for his triceps exercise, Mutthu, who was lying on a bench near the triceps machine doing chest push-ups, asked Mishra to hand over the rope. When Mishra refused, Mutthu began abusing him and then assaulted him. His two friends, Love Shinde and Kartik Ameen, joined in and attacked Mishra. Mutthu then struck Mishra on the head with a rod. He sustained multiple injuries and several stitches on his head. The 25-year-old gym trainer intervened and saved Mishra, who was subsequently taken to a hospital. Mishra said, “I found the rod they used to attack me and handed it over to the police. Surprisingly, when the police requested the addresses of the accused from the centre, they were told that no such information was available. Does this mean the centre allows access without verifying any IDs?” Mishra said. “When I went to the police station to file a complaint, my health began to deteriorate. I started feeling dizzy, and my family had to admit me to the hospital," Mishra said. “Additionally, the FIR does not include all the sections that should have been applied. The section for attempt to murder should also be included against them,” Mishra said. “An FIR has been registered at Vanrai police station under the relevant sections of the BNS. We have summoned the accused and issued a notice,” said senior inspector Raju Mane.
29 March,2025 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
Maharashtra: 7-year-old schoolboy kidnapped in Dombivli, rescued in 4 hours
The Dombivli Police in Thane district of Maharashtra on Friday rescued the 7-year-old son of a builder within hours after he was kidnapped, and nabbed four persons, an official said, reported the PTI. Rickshaw driver Viren Patil (25) who regularly ferried the boy to school allegedly kidnapped him with the help of his accomplices around 7.30 in the morning, said deputy commissioner of police Atul Zende, according to the PTI. The alleged kidnappers then called the boy's mother and demanded a ransom of Rs 2 crore for his release, but she immediately contacted Manpada police, he said. Police formed multiple teams to trace the child and the kidnappers. Suspecting Viren Patil's involvement, the police tracked him down. He was nabbed in Shahpur area of the district, and the boy was rescued. Besides Patil, three others including two minors were taken into custody. Further investigation was underway, the DCP said, as per the PTI. Three arrested for kidnapping 60-year-old man In an another incident, last month, a 60-year-old man from Gujarat has been rescued in the city from the clutches of kidnappers and three persons have been arrested, police had last month said, reported news agency PTI. Keshavji Bheemabhai Chowdhary was kidnapped when he was about to board the Kutch Express for Mumbai at Bhachau station, an official of Vakola police station had earlier said, reported PTI. The alleged kidnappers contacted his son Mahesh Kumar, and demanded Rs 25 lakh for his release through 'angadia' couriers, reported PTI. His son immediately contacted the police, after which multiple teams were formed to probe the case, the official had earlier said. One of the accused was nabbed in Kandivali area. His questioning led police to a flat near Ram Mandir railway station in the city where two other kidnappers were found with the victim, reported PTI. The arrested men were identified as Radheshyam Soni (30), Satish Yadav (33) and Dharmendra Ravidas, all residents of Malad, Kandivali and Goregaon in the western suburbs of Mumbai, reported PTI. They were booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) including for kidnapping and further investigation was underway, the official added. (with PTI inputs)
28 March,2025 11:10 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Baba Siddique murder: Wife moves court for justice
In a bid to prevent a miscarriage of justice in the murder case of NCP leader Baba Siddique, his wife, Shehzeen Ziauddin Siddique, has filed an intervention petition at the Special MCOCA Court on Friday. Baba Siddique succumbed to his injuries in October last year after being shot multiple times at point-blank range by three gunmen allegedly linked to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in Bandra East. In her petition through an advocate Trivankumar Karnani, Shehzeen Siddique stated that she has suffered an irreparable loss. “It is of utmost importance for the intervenor to put on record the true and correct facts to assist this court in reaching a free and fair conclusion. The applicant has endured physical and mental harm, along with immense emotional suffering, due to the unexpected and shocking murder of her husband,” the plea reads. An intervention petition allows a third party to participate in the trial to ensure justice is served. “The brutal murder of Baba Siddique on October 12, 2024, sent shockwaves through Mumbai, as the former Maharashtra minister and influential leader was gunned down in Bandra, right outside the office of his son, Zeeshan Siddique, a sitting MLA from the Bandra (East) Constituency,” the application states. “This audacious attack, executed in one of the city's most affluent and bustling neighbourhoods, saw the assailants fire at Siddique at point-blank range before fleeing the scene, leaving behind a trail of grief and outrage. The loss of Baba Siddique, a towering figure known for his unwavering commitment to public service, is not just a personal tragedy for his family but a significant loss to the nation,” the plea adds. “It is further submitted that the accused persons carried out a cold-blooded, pre-planned, and premeditated murder of the deceased,” the petition states. The application is yet to be accepted by the court. Meanwhile, a large team from the Mumbai Crime Branch has been investigating the case and has arrested 26 accused, including the shooters. The accused have been charge-sheeted in the case.
28 March,2025 10:24 PM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar Sharma
HC grants bail to lawyer arrested for links to PFI, says 'no evidence of terror act'
The Bombay High Court on Friday granted bail to a lawyer arrested for alleged links to the banned terror outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), observing there was no evidence that he had committed any terrorist act or instigated others. A division bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and S M Modak also noted that the accused -- Shaikh Sadique Isaq Qureshi -- was in jail since his arrest in September 2022. He was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The prosecution claimed that the ATS had recovered a 'road-map document' from the accused's mobile phone, titled as 'Draft-booklet-on-roadmap-for Regaining the glory of Islam in India-by 2047(1)'. As per the ATS, Qureshi used his knowledge of law to instigate youths to participate in acts against the nation. The high court, however, said there was no material on record to show that he was "instigating the members to commit any offence or wage war against India." "In the present case, no role is ascribed to the appellant of committing any terrorist act," it said. Undoubtedly, the objectives of the document found on his phone were extremely dangerous, but there was nothing to show that Qureshi had acted in any manner in support of the document or even propagated its ideas and objectives, the judges said. The bench also noted that as per the prosecution, it intended to examine 60 of 250 witnesses mentioned in the charge sheet, and charges were yet to be framed in the case. The prosecution had claimed that the objective of the accused persons in the case was to establish the rule of their own religion and substitute the Constitution of India with their own personal law. It also relied on certain lectures given by Qureshi. The court, however, said it did not find anything wrong in the accused giving lectures where he said "our democracy is dependent on Courts, Media and Administration." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 March,2025 09:27 PM IST | Mumbai | PTI
Five get 20 years in jail for gangrape of mentally unwell minor girl in Mumbai
Five persons were sentenced on Friday to 20 years in jail for raping a 16-year-old mentally unwell girl in Mumbai, according to the PTI. Special Judge MH Pathan convicted the five accused for gangrape under provisions of Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The reasoned order has not been made available as yet. The girl had gone missing on October 21, 2016 after which a probe began following the registration of a missing person case, the prosecution said, as per the PTI. After being traced four days later, the girl told police she was raped by the accused multiple times. The girl got pregnant and had to undergo an abortion, the prosecution said. The victim was first sexually assaulted by one of the accused, a rickshaw driver who was known to her. Later, the accused kidnapped the victim and raped her repeatedly between October 21, 2016 to October 25, 2106 near Marve Beach, as per the prosecution, the PTI reported. Thane man sentenced to 20 years in jail for rape and assault of seven-year-old girl Meanwhile, in an another incident, a Thane court convicted and sentenced a man from Maharashtra's Thane district to 20 years in prison for rape and assault of a seven-year-old girl about six years ago, according to the PTI. In his order last week, Additional Sessions Judge from Kalyan, PR Ashturkar, also imposed a fine of Rs 6,000 on the 39-year-old convict, a resident of the Ambernath area in Thane district. Special Public Prosecutor Sachin Kulkarni told the court that in July 2019, the man lured the child out of her house under a false pretext, took her to a desolate spot and raped her. He also struck the girl, resulting in a tooth being knocked out, said Kulkarni, as per the PTI. Hearing her cries, a passerby rushed to the spot and caught the man, who was subsequently arrested and booked for rape under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and assault. The court said the prosecution had proved all charges against the man beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced him to 20 years in jail. Kulkarni said eight witnesses, including the survivor, testified in the court. "The judge found the survivor's testimony compelling and consistent," he added. (with PTI inputs)
28 March,2025 09:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent