Mumbai Crime: 50-year-old man tries to rob mobile shopkeeper in Borivli, held

Photo used for representational purpose

A 50-year-old man allegedly tried to rob a mobile shopkeeper in Indraprastha mall in Borivli on Thursday. The accused, identified as Malik Khan, was caught by people and the security guard and handed over to the police.

According to police sources, on Thursday morning, the accused visited the shop and purchased a second hand phone for Rs 3,500. In the evening, he again visited the store. The shopkeeper, identified as Narendra Prajapati, noticed Khan and approached him. Khan pulled out a ‘gun' and pointed it on Prajapati's head and demanded cash.

Prajapati's co-worker Kanti Purohit immediately raised an alarm, alerting the mall security and other shopkeepers. Within minutes, people and the security guards gathered in the shop and overpowered Khan. Prajapati then snatched the ‘gun' from Khan and Borivli police was informed about the incident.

Khan was arrested by the police. Upon checking, the police found out that the accused used a gun-shaped lighter to threaten the shopkeeper.

"We have arrested Khan under Section 393 and 506(2) of the IPC. He was produced before the court and he remanded to four-day police custody," said a police officer.

During interrogation, the accused said that he had purchased a second-hand mobile phone from the shop months ago and that phone was not working properly. When he asked the shopkeeper to replace it or return money, he refused. To recover his money, the accused decided to rob the shopkeeper.

The accused is a resident of Jogeshwari and is in marble business, the police officer added.