Mumbai pickpocket gang busted after robbing PM Modi’s special guard

The robbers had withdrawn money from the victim’s card within minutes of the theft

The Andheri Government Railway Police (GRP) arrested two members of a gang that robbed wallets of train commuters and then used the credit or debit cards to withdraw money from accounts even before the commuters realised that they had been robbed.

The gang was busted after a member of PM Narendra Modi's special protection group (SPG) was robbed and his debit cards stolen and used by the accused, identified as Raanu Virendra Pandey and Haider Shaikh, to withdraw money.

GRP officers said the incident occurred on November 6, when the victim arrived in Mumbai from Orissa to visit a friend. The victim had boarded a local train from Vile Parle to Prabhadevi. When the victim reached Mahim station, he received a message on his mobile phone that a withdrawal had been made from his account. He then checked his bag to find his wallet missing. He then approached the Andheri GRP and registered a complaint.

Senior Police Inspector Dattaray Nikam began an investigation and arrested Pandey. After interrogation, the police officers found out that Pandey had taken the wallet of the victim and within minutes gave it to Shaikh who then swiped the debit card, withdrew the money and gave Raanu Rs 4,000.

The police then arrested Shaikh, who confessed to having swiped over 50 credit and debit cards given to him by various robbers. The police said that they have unearthed a gang with the arrest of the accused who robbed wallets of railway commuters. The two have been arrested for theft under the various sections of the IPC and IT Act, said an officer from Andheri GRP.