Police in Latur have arrested a 46-year-old accountant in connection with the murder of a security guard at a hospital in the city, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to three. The arrest follows a series of developments in the investigation of the brutal killing of 35-year-old Balu Bharat Dongre, who was employed as a security guard at Icon Hospital. According to the police, Dongre was severely beaten on December 11, and he later succumbed to his injuries. A murder case was filed at the Shivajinagar police station against Dr Pramod Ghuge, the owner of the hospital, and his nephew Aniket Munde. Ghuge, who is the primary suspect in the murder, was apprehended on December 23 at an ashram in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Munde was arrested a couple of days later, on the night between December 25 and 26, by the local police. On Saturday, the police arrested Jayram Devidas Kamble, a 46-year-old accountant at the hospital’s medical shop, in relation to the incident. Kamble’s arrest came after police conducted an investigation into the case, which had already involved the two previous arrests. Kamble was apprehended near Rajiv Gandhi Chowk in the city, and the police believe he had some involvement in the events that led to Dongre’s death. According to police sources, the motive behind the murder stemmed from a dispute between Dongre and Ghuge. It is alleged that Ghuge had forced Dongre to assist in the abduction of a lift contractor, but later refused to pay him for his involvement, which escalated into a violent confrontation. The confrontation ultimately led to Dongre’s tragic death. Following their arrests, Dr Ghuge and his nephew Munde have been remanded in police custody until December 30, as investigations into the murder case continue. The case has garnered significant attention in Latur, particularly due to the involvement of a hospital owner and the brutal nature of the crime. (With inputs from PTI)
29 December,2024 09:50 AM IST | LaturThe Kandivli police have registered a case of extortion against Shiv Sena’s (Eknath Shinde group) “Vibhag Parmukh” Lalsingh Rajpurohit, alias Lalu, and six of his associates for allegedly assaulting and extorting money from engineers involved in road construction work under the jurisdictions of R/ Ward municipal corporation Kandivli. According to police sources, a private company had been awarded a road construction contract. Engineers from the company were working on-site near Irani Wadi, where Lalu’s office is located. In February, Lalu had allegedly demanded and received R5 lakh to allow the construction work to proceed. Subsequently, Lalu and his associates began allegedly demanding additional money from the engineers, reportedly abusing and threatening them with warnings to halt the construction work if their demands were not met. On Tuesday, three engineers, identified as Abhypartap Singh, Vishwanath Chaurasiya, and Vinit Singh, were summoned to Lalu’s office in Irani Wadi. It is alleged that Lalu and his associates demanded more money for the ongoing road construction and threatened to forcibly stop the work if their demands were not fulfilled. When the engineers refused to comply, they were reportedly abused and assaulted with bamboo sticks by Lalu and his associates outside his office. The matter was reported to the Kandivli police station, and a case under various sections of BNS was registered against Lalu. The Kandivli police so far have arrested two identified as Pintu Jaiswal alias Rahul, 31, and Nilesh Jaiswal, 39. A manhunt is on for the others.
29 December,2024 07:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanAzad Maidan police have arrested two thieves who had allegedly mingled with the crowd and stolen jewellery worth R14 lakh on December 5, during the oath-taking ceremony of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The police said they were caught in Nagpur. One of the accused was allegedly caught red-handed as he was trying to commit the same offence at a political programme. The accused have been identified as Amol Babasaheb Gite, 28, a resident of Ahilyanagar, and Sumit Ratan Rangari, 18, a resident of Nagpur. The accused stole 15 gold chains worth Rs 14.34 lakhs and cash at Azad Maidan. A police officer said, “Both the accused are involved in multiple cases and are regular offenders.” During the investigation, the police checked Gite’s mobile tower location and it was found that he was present at Azad Maidan on December 5. His partner, Sumit Rangari, was arrested on December 23. The Bazar Nagar Police arrested both accused and handed them to Azad Maidan police on Friday. The cops are yet to recover the stolen gold and cash. Advocate Sunil Pandey, who is appearing for the accused, said, “The accused are victims in this case and were framed. They are farmers from Nagpur. Due to pressure from superiors, they were arrested. There is no evidence to link them with the incident.”
29 December,2024 07:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaOne person was killed and another seriously injured after they were hit by Marathi actor Urmila Kothare's car in Kandivali area of Mumbai in the wee hours of Saturday, police said, reported the PTI. The actor and her driver were also injured in the accident, an official said. The incident took place when Urmila Kothare was returning home after finishing her shoot, he said. "Kothare's car hit two people, both labourers who were engaged in Metro rail work under the Poisar Metro station in Kandivali east shortly after midnight. While labourer died, another was seriously injured. The actor and her driver were also injured in the accident. But they were saved as the airbags opened at the right time," the official of the Samta Nagar police station said, as per the PTI. As per the preliminary information, the driver lost control over the speeding vehicle, due to which it hit the victims working on roadside, he said. A case has been registered against the car driver and investigation is underway, he added. Urmila Kothare has acted in a few films, including "Duniyadari" in Marathi and "Thank God" in Hindi. Woman Killed, four injured after tempo driver loses control of vehicle in Mumbai's Ghatkopar Meanwhile, in an another incident, a woman was killed, and three others were injured after a tempo driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle and rammed into pedestrians in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area, the police said on Friday. The incident took place at the busy Macha Market Road in Chirag Nagar area of Ghatkopar at around 6:30 pm, the officials said. According to the police, at the time of the incident, the tempo was being driven by 25-year-old Uttam Babban Kharat, a resident of Ghatkopar. The vehicle allegedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to hit several pedestrians walking on the road, said an official. The woman who died in the incident has been identified as Preeti Ritesh Patel, 35, a resident of Bhagirathi Chawl in Ghatkopar West, the official said. Three other women and one man were also injured in the accident they were identified as Reshma Sheikh, 23, Marufa Sheikh, 27, Toofa Ujhar Sheikh, 38 and Moharam Ali Abdul Rahim Sheikh, 28. All of them are residents of Chirag Nagar, Parshiwadi, Macha Market, Ghatkopar West. They sustained minor injuries and were immediately rushed to Rajawadi Hospital for treatment, the police said. The police have taken the tempo and its driver into custody for further investigation, the official said. (with PTI inputs)
28 December,2024 08:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Mumbai Police have filed an extortion case against a leader of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, an official said on Saturday. Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader identified as Lalsingh Rajpurohit, who is Vibhag Pramukh (Division Chief) for Kandivali, and his associates were booked by the police in connection with matter, the official said. The case was registered following a complaint lodged by a civil engineer involved in road-related work in Kandivali West. According to the police sources, Rajpurohit and his associates allegedly demanded an extortion sum of Rs 5 lakh from the engineer in order to initiate roadwork projects in the area. When the engineer failed to meet the demand, he was allegedly called to Rajpurohit's office on Dattani Road, Irani Wadi in Kandivali West area of north Mumbai. Upon arrival, the engineer and his associate were reportedly threatened, physically assaulted, and beaten with bamboo sticks. Rajpurohit, along with his four to five accomplices allegedly used violence to force compliance. The assault allegedly left the engineer and his colleague injured, sources said. Following the attack, the victim reached out to the police and narrated the incident to the Kandivali Police, who registered a case and began to investigate the matter. Two of Rajpurohit's associates were arrested on Saturday, a police official said.
28 December,2024 05:43 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe police on Saturday said that a 50-year-old brother of a civic contractor was allegedly strangled to death during a clash between two families in Mumbai's Kurla area, following which five persons have been arrested, reported news agency PTI. The incident occurred in Match Factory Lane at Hussaini Compound in Kurla west on Friday morning, an official said while sharing an update on the Mumbai crime, reported PTI. The complainant in the case, Ishaq Abbas Beig, is a contractor in the Solid Waste Management Department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). A local citizen, Rubina, often complained against Beig in the BMC alleging that his employees did not work properly. As a result, Beig and Rubina would often engage in altercation, the official said while sharing an update on the Mumbai crime, reported PTI. "On the day of the incident, BMC officials reached the Hussaini Compound on Rubina's complaint. Soon, Beig also came to the place with his brother and others, and an argument broke out between him and Rubina's family members. In a fit of rage, two accused from Rubina's side strangled Beig's brother Kasam, resulting in his death," he added. Beig then approached the police and lodged a complaint against the accused, based on which a case of murder was registered under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), he said. Five persons, including two women, were arrested in the case. They were identified as Roshan Zahera Sheikh alias Rubina, Safdar Hussain Sayyed, Shabrez Hussain Sayyed, Wasif Hussain Sayyed and Rukhsana Dilshad Hussain, the police said, adding that investigation into the case was on, reported PTI. Man obstructing traffic attacks on-duty cop with stick A 52-year-old policeman suffered head injuries when a man obstructing traffic attacked him with a stick in Malad area of Mumbai, police said on Wednesday, reported PTI. The incident occurred Tuesday when Assistant Sub-Inspector Manik Sawant was patrolling Kachpada locality in Malad with his colleagues in a police van. Sawant spotted a traffic jam and got down to clear the road. He spotted a man intentionally blocking vehicles, an official said, reported PTI. Sawant pulled the man aside and instructed him to leave the spot. Enraged, the man threatened the policeman to kill him, picked up a stick and struck him on his head. Sawant lost consciousness and fell, the official said, reported PTI. "The accused fled the scene, leaving the stick behind. The other two officers in the mobile van immediately rushed Sawant to Tunga Hospital in Malad. He regained consciousness after treatment," the official said, reported PTI. Police identified the accused as Arun Harijan, a resident of Kachpada area, during the investigation. Based on Sawant's complaint, a case was registered on the charge of attempt to murder under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). No arrest has been made, the official added. (With inputs from PTI)
28 December,2024 02:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAn official on Friday said that the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested 13 Bangladeshi nationals for entering India illegally and staying without valid documents, reported news agency PTI. The arrests were made during a special drive initiated by the Maharashtra ATS, he added. "Accordingly, action was taken in the last 24 hours with the help of police in Navi Mumbai, Thane and Sholapur. We arrested seven men and six women. They have been booked in three cases under Foreigners Act and other relevant laws. These Bangladeshi nationals had managed to get Indian documents like Aadhaar cards using forged documents," he said, reported PTI. ATS arrests 17 Bangladeshi nationals in four Maharashtra cities for illegal stay Earlier, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had arrested 17 Bangladeshi nationals from four different cities in the state, including capital Mumbai, for illegal entry into India and staying without permission, officials said on Wednesday, reported PTI. The arrests were made as part of a special drive, an official said. "The ATS carried out the operation in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Nashik cities this week with the help of local police," he said, reported PTI. "At least 17 Bangladeshi nationals, comprising 14 males and three females, were arrested for entering India without permission and staying in the country without valid documents," he added, reported PTI. Ten separate cases have been registered against the accused persons under the Foreigners Act and other relevant laws, he said. Ten Bangladeshi nationals held in Navi Mumbai for illegal stay Navi Mumbai Police arrested ten Bangladeshi nationals, including eight women and two men, for staying in India illegally without documents, an official said on Tuesday, reported PTI. The action followed the raids conducted by the crime branch's anti-human trafficking unit over the weekend in Vashi and Kharghar areas. Preliminary investigation suggested that Bangladeshi men typically work as labourers while women work as domestic helps. An official said the arrested Bangladeshi men and women have been residing in India illegally since 2023. They failed to produce any proof of Indian citizenship or travel documents, reported PTI. "Some of them have been residing in India illegally for years," the official added. A case has been registered at Kharghar police station under relevant sections of the Passport Act and the Foreigners Act. (With inputs from PTI)
28 December,2024 12:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Malvani Police have arrested two individuals, including a relative of a Mumbai Police official, for allegedly kidnapping, robbing, and extorting over Rs 6 lakh from a call center employee. The accused also recorded an explicit video of the victim and threatened to release it on social media as a means of blackmail. The arrested individuals have been identified as Angel Gomes (25) and Aditya Badekar (21). According to police sources, the duo kidnapped a 25-year-old man from the Mahakali area on Lagoon Road, Malvani, in the early hours of December 24, around 3 am. They took him to an under-construction building in Goregaon, where they recorded a nude video of him holding a pouch of ganja. The accused then released him the following evening, threatening to make the video viral if he disclosed the incident to anyone. Before letting him go, they transferred over Rs 6 lakh from the victim's account. The complainant, a call center employee, reported that Gomes, a former colleague, orchestrated the crime. It is alleged that Gomes was terminated from the call center in April and believed the complainant was responsible for his dismissal, which led to animosity between them. Three days ago, the victim was accosted by Badekar outside his home. Shortly after, Gomes arrived, assaulted him, and took him to Goregaon, where Gomes continued to argue with him. The victim recounted that Gomes forced him to visit an ATM to check his account balance before taking him to a construction site. The following day, Gomes demanded his Aadhaar card and later took him to a drain in Prem Nagar, where he purchased liquor from a bar. Gomes then took the complainant to meet his father, forced him to sign a document promising not to file a complaint, and recorded a nude video of him holding a bag of marijuana, falsely framing him as a drug dealer. Passersby, noticing the complainant's distressed appearance, questioned him, further adding to his humiliation. Gomes subsequently withdrew Rs 60,000 from the complainant’s account at a shop before dropping him home. Later, the complainant discovered that Gomes had downloaded multiple loan apps on his phone and stolen a total of Rs 6.21 lakh from his account. The complainant reported the incident to the Malvani Police, who registered a case. Under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police Anand Bhoite (Zone 11), a team was formed under the supervision of Senior Inspector Shailendra Nagarkar. The duo was apprehended last night and subsequently arrested. They were presented before the court today, according to an officer from the Malvani Police Station. Further investigation is underway, the officer added.
28 December,2024 12:04 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe Mulund police have filed a case of abetment to suicide after a 27-year-old man reportedly died by suicide on December 26. The incident came to light after the police received information about a body found near LBS Marg. “We reached the spot and found the individual unconscious. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. He was identified as a 27-year-old resident of Sion,” said Senior Police Inspector Shivaji Chavan from the Mulund police station. A suicide note was found with the deceased, prompting the police to charge another 27-year-old man with abetment to suicide. “The note claims that the accused had named the deceased in a criminal case, which may have led him to take this extreme step,” Chavan said. According to the police, the accused was already in custody on charges of rape in a case registered by the Wadala TT police. Investigations revealed that the accused allegedly invited women to hotel rooms, blackmailed them, and used the deceased’s documents to book the rooms. Suicide helplines Samaritans Mumbai 84229-84527between 10 am and 4 pm (Monday to Friday) Connecting every life counts NGO99220043059922001122daily from 10 am to 8 pm 1 Life (24x7) 7893078930
28 December,2024 08:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheThe Mumbai Crime Branch, investigating the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, is likely to file a charge sheet by the end of this week or the first week of January. Sources have revealed that there is no evidence to suggest an SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority) dispute as a possible motive. Instead, based on strong evidence, investigators believe that Siddique’s close association with Salman Khan was the motive behind the murder. The charge sheet will name 26 accused individuals arrested during the investigation. It will also list three masterminds and key conspirators—Anmol Bishnoi, Shubham Lonkar, and Zeeshan Akhtar—who remain absconding. Crime Branch sources stated that they had collected multiple documents related to the SRA dispute involving Bandra’s Sant Dnyaneshwar Nagar and Bharat Nagar slums. They also recorded relevant statements. However, no evidence was found to link the dispute to Siddique’s murder. The SRA angle was initially explored after a ‘tweet’ from Siddique’s son, former Bandra East MLA Zeeshan Siddiqui. In the tweet, he claimed that his father died protecting the lives and homes of the poor. “The SRA dispute angle was thoroughly investigated, but no sufficient evidence surfaced during the probe,” said a senior Crime Branch officer. During the investigation, the Crime Branch came across a facebook post by Shubham Lonkar, who claimed responsibility for the murder on behalf of the Bishnoi gang. The post alleged that Siddique was close to Salman Khan and had links with Dawood Ibrahim. It also suggested that the murder was revenge for Anuj Thapan’s death. Thapan, an accused in the Salman Khan firing case, died by suicide in Crime Branch custody. “The shooters were misled with false claims that Siddique was Dawood’s man and was responsible for Thapan's death. They believed these fabrications and accepted the contract to kill Siddiqui,” an officer explained. The official added that the murder plot began soon after the firing outside Salman Khan’s residence on April 14 this year. Both Siddique and his son Zeeshan, and Salman Khan, were targets, but the shooters focused on Siddique after struggling to gain access to Salman Khan. On October 12, they learned from a political banner that Siddiqui and his son would be at their Bandra East office. That evening, the shooters reached the location, and at around 9 pm, they assassinated Baba Siddique who was a police protectee. Six rounds were fired and two hit him in the chest. Zeeshan had left the office just minutes before the attack otherwise the assailants would have shot him as well. The charge sheet, according to sources, is expected to run into thousands of pages and will include dozens of witness statements, some recorded before a magistrate. Notably, jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has not been named as a wanted accused due to a lack of direct evidence. However, his brother, Anmol Bishnoi—arrested in California, US—is identified as the mastermind behind the contract killing. Lonkar and Akhtar are named as key conspirators. Officials suspect that both Lonkar and Akhtar have either fled the country or are hiding in Naxal-affected areas. 26No. of accused arrested
28 December,2024 07:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanA 32-year-old woman and her 11-year-old son bravely thwarted a robbery attempt at their home in the Makhi Manzil building located in Chawl Gali, Dongri. The incident occurred around 11 am on Thursday when a masked man attempted to loot their apartment. According to sources, the robber, wearing a monkey cap, knocked on the door of the family’s eighth-floor apartment. When the woman opened the door, he forcefully pushed her inside, locked the door, and threatened her with a knife, warning her to remain silent or face dire consequences. Despite the threat, the woman and her son ran toward the door, attempting to open it and call for help. During the struggle, the robber attacked the woman, injuring her hand. Undeterred, she managed to open the door and shout for assistance, scaring the thief, who tried to flee. Injuries the mother sustained while grappling with the robber Her son attempted to unmask the robber. He lunged at the thief and managed to pull off the monkey cap. During the scuffle, the robber’s knife grazed the boy’s shoulder, causing minor injuries. Panicked, the thief fled the scene to avoid capture. Speaking to mid-day, the woman said, “My son came home early from school due to a half-day schedule—he is studying in Std VII. My husband had gone to work as usual. When I heard a knock at the door, I opened it. The person standing in front of me was wearing a monkey cap and a jacket. Before I could ask who it was, he forcefully pushed me inside and headed toward the room where our cupboard was located, locking the door behind him. “I immediately ran to the door, trying to open it and call for help. Suddenly, he pulled out a knife and threatened me, ordering me to remain silent. When I reached out to open the door, he slashed my hand with the knife.” “Seeing this, my son tried to help by opening the door but was also attacked by the intruder. However, we managed to get the door open and started shouting for help. My son bravely tried to unmask the thief by pulling off his cap. During the scuffle, the robber struck him, and the knife grazed his shoulder. Despite his injuries, my son successfully snatched the cap. Fearing exposure, the thief fled.” Both the mother and son sustained minor injuries during the attack and were taken to Sir JJ Hospital. Senior Police Inspector Jitendra Vankoti of Dongri police station said, “A case has been registered against an unknown individual under the relevant sections of the BNS, based on the woman’s complaint. Since the building lacks CCTV surveillance, we are reviewing footage from the surrounding area to identify whether the accused is an outsider or a resident of the building.” 11 amTime of the attack
28 December,2024 07:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanADVERTISEMENT
