Mumbai Crime: Mobile thieves collect 'return gift' on SRK's birthday outside Mannat

A phone snatcher, who seems to be minor, being led away by cops from outside Shah Rukh Khan’s residence in Bandra on Thursday. Pic/Sameer Markande

Mobile thieves made the most of the opportunity as the crowd swelled outside Mannat, Shah Rukh Khan's residence at Bandra on the night of November 1. Some of the fans who had arrived on the occasion of the actor's birthday said that there was not an inch of space to move in.

The elation over seeing Shakrukh Khan in person on the actor's birthday was shortlived for over a dozen of his fans when they realised that they had lost their mobile phones to thieves. In all, 17 mobile phones were reported to be stolen outside Mannat bungalow, the actor's residence in Bandra. Thousands of fans of the actor, popularly known as SRK, had turned up at Mannat to get his glimpse on the occasion of his 58th birthday on the night of November 1.

The turnout of fans at Mannat to see their favourite actor wave his hand from his residence has become sort of a tradition now. However, this year, over 7,000 fans had turned up outside Mannat to wish SRK on his birthday. Besides Mumbai, SRK fans had arrived from Pune, Kolhapur, Sangli, Nanded and other cities.

A pickpocket seems to be arguing with the cops after being caught in the act outside Mannat House on Thursday. Pic/Sameer Markande

Photojournalist Arbaz Wahid Khan was among the persons who lost their mobile phones. According to a police official, Khan had turned up at Mannat Bungalow on November 1 at 10.30 pm for the photographs. However, as the turnout of the crowd swelled, the mobile phone got stolen from the photographer's pocket. Similarly, Vinay Wankhede, a Pune resident also lost his mobile phone in the crowd. Wankhede had come from Pune with his friend to see SRK.

Speaking with mid-day, Gulam Kamra, a resident of Nanded said, "I had specially come from Nanded to Mumbai to see my favourite superstar Sharukh Khan. It was so crowded that I was unable to move an inch. I came with three friends. I lost my mobile phone in this crowd. I informed Bandra police and registered an FIR."

Another victim Alok Kumar Chandra Dutt, a resident of Kolhapur had also come to Mumbai to see SRK. Speaking with mid-day, Dutt said, "I lost my mobile phone in this crowd but I am happy that I got a chance to see my superstar SRK. When I withdrew from the crowd at 12.45 am that is when I realised that I lost my phone and informed Bandra police about the incident."

The other victims who lost their mobile phones outside Mannat are Dhruv Kothari from Mumbai, Ayush Gala from Byculla, Sushil Mohite from Bhoiwada, Manjeet Tusharkanti from Aarey-Goregaon, Sanjay Haldar from Ghatkopar, Abbas Zhaga from Dongri, Sameer Imam from Pune, Raj Vohra from Borivali, Alkash Tade from Pune, Dil Singh from Vidhya Vihar, Priya Rai from Vashi and Sahil Sandi from Sangli.

Speaking with mid-day DCP Krishnakant Upadhyay of Zone 9 said, "On the occasion of SRK's birthday 17 mobile phones were stolen outside his bungalow on the night of November 1. We have increased bandobast in the area and are also checking CCTV camera footage of the area to track the thieves." In 2022, 11 mobile phones were reported to be stolen outside Mannat on the occasion of SRK's birthday. In 2021, the Bandra police had arrested a gang of three persons for stealing mobile phones outside Mannat.

10
No of phones stolen outside Mannat in 2021

11
No of phones stolen outside Mannat in 2022

7,000
No if people at Mannat

17
No of mobile phones reported stolen