Thieves break into Navi Mumbai temple, take away Rs 20,000 from donation box

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The police have registered a case after thieves broke into a Navi Mumbai temple and stole Rs 20,000 from a donation box on the premises, an official said on Friday, reported news agency PTI.

The incident at the Dutt Mandir in the Airoli area took place on the intervening night of February 21 and February 22, he said, reported PTI.

On a complaint by the temple trustee, the Rabale police registered a case on Thursday.

"About Rs 20,000 was stolen from the donation box. We are examining the CCTV footage of the Navi Mumbai temple to identify those behind the crime," said the station house officer of the police station, reported PTI.

In another case, the police have registered two cases for illegal electricity consumption in different parts of Navi Mumbai, an official said on Friday, reported PTI.

The power thefts were reported in the Panvel and Khandeshwar areas, he said.

A case was registered under the Indian Electricity Act, 2003 against Meghnath Mhatre, the owner of a stone quarry in Panvel, who allegedly stole electricity worth Rs 62.6 lakh over one year, the official said, reported PTI.

The accused allegedly directly tapped into the Maharashtra State Electricity Board's (MSEB) supply line for operations at his unit, he said.

The official said a separate case was registered against Mhatre and his associate Firoz Sheikh for stealing electricity worth Rs 14.8 lakh in Khandeshwar, reported PTI.

No arrests have been made so far, and an investigation is underway to ascertain the extent of the illegal consumption, he added.

Meanwhile, the Navi Mumbai police have registered a case against five persons for allegedly cheating several people after promising "unsustainable" returns on their investment, an official said on Friday, reported PTI.

The accused claimed that they belonged to a company named "SPVS" and asked the victims to indulge in "share trading" through them, the official said.

The accused promised to double the money in a year if a client invested Rs 1 lakh besides selling many other "attractive" schemes that the police said were "unsustainable".

However, the investors did not get any returns even after paying huge sums, he said.

Acting on several complaints, the newly established Financial Intelligence Unit of the Navi Mumbai police registered a case against Sachin Dongre, Vikas Nikam, Bhagwan Kondalkar, Deepali Kondalkar, and Sagar Borate under the Indian Penal Code for cheating and the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) Act, reported PTI.

The company's offices at Vashi and Mhape were found to be locked, he added.

(With inputs from PTI)