In a tragic incident, a 25-year-old elevator technician died on Tuesday after being stuck between flooring slab and the lift car in Santacruz building in Mumbai, an official said. The accident took place during lift maintenance work in the Fortune Heights building located at Shivaji Nagar area of Vakola in Santacruz East. The incident was reported to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) at 5 pm. According to the officials, the technician, identified as Ranjit Nirahu Gaud, employed with Sunrise Elevator Company, was trapped in the gap between the flooring slab and the lift car on the first floor of the 13-story building. Rescue operations were carried out by MFB personnel, police, and the elevator company's staff. The lift was manually operated to extricate the technician. Gaud was rushed to V. N. Desai Hospital in an ambulance. However, despite efforts, he was declared dead by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Taufik Ansari at 8:24 PM. The police have initiated an investigation into the incident.
24 December,2024 10:02 PM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaMumbai Police's cyber cell recovered Rs 4.65 crores in 4 hours out of Rs 7.50 crores in that were allegedly duped by scamsters using the SIM swap method. The alert owner of a private company called the cyber helpline number on December 23, and the cyber police acted quickly, recovering the money in 4 hours. Efforts are being made to recover the remaining amount. Explaining the SIM swap method, DCP Datta Nalawade told mid-day, “Cybercriminals illegally gain access to the SIM card of the owner and then, using the compromised SIM, the fraudsters gain unauthorized access to the company’s bank account and dupe the victim.” The incident occurred in Kandivali area of Mumbai where cybercriminals illegally accessed the SIM card of the owner of a private company. Using the compromised SIM, the fraudsters gained unauthorised access to the company’s bank account and siphoned off Rs 7.50 crores through multiple transactions to various bank accounts. The complainant became aware of the fraudulent activities through email notifications and immediately contacted the 1930 Cyber Helpline to report the incident. PSI Mangesh Bhoir explained to mid-day how fraudsters commit SIM swapping and how citizens can protect themselves: Procedure of Financial Investment by SIM Swap: By befriending various businessmen, eminent persons, etc., through social media, information about their personal and work life is obtained through social engineering. Information is also collected using viruses, APK files, or malware. Personal and financial information is collected by sending certain phishing links and asking them to click on them. Sometimes fraud agencies also buy banks' databases. Once the information is received, mobile companies are requested to block the SIM by creating a fake identity card or activate a new e-SIM. When the mobile companies give a new SIM, financial transactions are carried out by getting the OTP on it. Since the new SIM card is in the fraudster's possession, the OTP goes to them, allowing further transactions. In this way, the money in the account is diverted to multiple accounts, the police official said. Appeal to Citizens as cops urge people to take preventive measures: To avoid financial loss due to SIM swapping, email alerts should be implemented for each bank account in addition to SMS alerts. In case of sudden closure of a personal or company SIM card linked to the bank account, the concerned bank should be informed to disconnect it from the account. SIM swapping usually happens on public holidays (generally on Saturday, Sunday) during consecutive holidays when it is difficult to contact the mobile gallery and banks in person. In such cases, quick steps need to be taken by contacting customer care. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enable 2FA for your social media accounts. This can help prevent unauthorised access to your social media accounts by strangers. Regularly change your internet/mobile backup password after a certain period of time.
24 December,2024 09:33 PM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheThe body of a 12-year-old girl from Kalyan in Thane district of Maharashtra was found in a village on Tuesday, a day after she went missing from near her house, police said, reported the PTI. Dy SP Rahul Zalte told PTI that the body of the girl was spotted by passersby at around 10 AM near the wall of a graveyard in Bapgaon village. The body was identified by the girl's parents, who had lodged a missing person complaint at Kolsewadi police station in Kalyan on Monday evening. Police had registered an FIR under section 137 (kidnapping) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and launched a search to trace the girl. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the suspicious death of the girl. "Her postmortem report is awaited. The process to register an FIR is underway," a police official added, the news agency reported. Undertrial prisoner assaults Home Guard at jail in Kalyan town; FIR filed Meanwhile, in an another incident in Kalyan, an undertrial prisoner allegedly assaulted a Home Guard at the hospital ward of Aadharwadi Jail in Kalyan town of Thane district, police said on Tuesday, reported the PTI. According to the police, the incident occurred around 4:45 pm on Monday when the Home Guard was escorting the undertrial, identified as Pankaj Santlal Yadav, from the interview block to the hospital ward within the jail premises. An altercation began after the undertrial, who was unwell and undergoing treatment at the jail hospital, accused the Home Guard of cutting short his interview, they said. Interview blocks in jails are areas where prisoners can meet with their friends and family or talk to them via video link. An official, quoting the complaint filed by the victim and the FIR at the Khadakpada police station, explained Yadav allegedly hurled abuses at the Home Guard, blaming him for not allowing him to complete his interview. When the Home Guard asked Yadav to stop abusing him, the latter became aggressive. Yadav lunged at the Home Guard, grabbing him by the collar, slapping him, and striking him with his fists. During the altercation, Yadav also tore the loop on the Home Guard's shoulder, said the official. Based on the Home Guard's complaint, the police have registered an FIR against Yadav under multiple Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections, including 132 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their duty), 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace, and 324-2 (mischief), he added, as per the PTI. (with PTI inputs)
24 December,2024 06:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken possession of a flat valued at ₹55 lakh in Thane, Maharashtra, as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to Iqbal Kaskar, the brother of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim. The flat is allegedly owned by Mumtaz Ezaz Shaikh, a close associate of Kaskar. According to sources in the federal agency, the residential property in the Neopolis Building, located in Thane West, was attached as a result of a provisional order issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in 2022. The adjudicating authority had approved the provisional attachment, which allowed the ED to take formal possession of the flat. The process of seizing the property was completed recently. The ED had previously alleged that the flat was extorted by Iqbal Kaskar and his associates from a Thane-based real estate developer, Suresh Devichand Mehta. "Mehta, who was involved in construction business with his partner through Darshan Enterprises, was coerced by Kaskar, Mumtaz Shaikh, and Israr Ali Jamil Saiyad, who, due to their association with Dawood Ibrahim, managed to seize a flat in Thane in the name of Mumtaz Ezaz Shaikh," the ED had stated. In addition to the flat, the ED also pointed out that four cheques totalling ₹10 lakh were issued by the builder, which were later encashed by the accused via cash withdrawals. These transactions were also part of the money laundering probe. The money laundering investigation stems from an FIR registered by Thane Police in September 2017. The police had filed charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused. As per PTI, Kaskar is currently in judicial custody, while his brother, Dawood Ibrahim, has been declared a terrorist by India and is believed to be residing in Pakistan. Dawood Ibrahim's brother Iqbal Kaskar held in PMLA case; ED gets custody till February 24 A special court in Mumbai remanded fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim's brother Iqbal Kaskar in the custody of Enforcement Directorate till February 24 in a money laundering case. Earlier in the day, based on a production warrant issued by the court, the ED, which is conducting a money laundering probe into underworld-linked property and hawala deals, took custody of Kaskar, who is currently lodged in a Thane jail in connection with multiple extortion cases. Kaskar was placed under arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after interrogation on Friday and was produced before special judge MG Deshpande by the ED, which sought his custody for further probe into the matter.
24 December,2024 01:25 PM IST | MumbaiA 55-year-old member of a criminal gang accused of robbery and murder bid in Maharashtra's Palghar has been arrested from Jalna district after evading capture for 21 years, police said on Tuesday, reported news agency PTI. Baburao Anna Kale, who is accused of robbery and murder bid, is a Pardhi gang member who had concealed his identity to evade arrest was apprehended on Friday, stated PTI. The accused was traced to a house at a farm in his native village Valkhed under Partur taluka in Jalna, the police said. On January 9, 2003, four persons broke into a bungalow at Bolinj-Agashi in Palghar's Virar area, PTI stated. They tied-up the house occupants, held them at knifepoint while covering their faces with blankets and stole gold ornaments of Rs 1.33 lakh and Rs 25,000 cash, senior police inspector Rahul Rakha said, reported PTI. Using the same method the robbers also target a neighbouring bunglow, but faed to find any valuables there. The Virar police registered an FIR the same day against the then unidentified persons under Indian Penal Code sections 394 (voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery), 342 (wrongful confinement), 457 (lurking house-trespass), 511 (attempt to commit an offence) and 34 (common intention), the official said, reported PTI. Suchinath alias Rajesh Satyavan Pawar, on of the accused, was apprehended in 2005, and a charge sheet was filed against him. The police official said that the three others, including Kale, remained at large. The official said that in the recent months, the Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar (MBVV) crime branch made a renewed effort to conduct the probe during which they received a tip about Kale residing in his village in Jalna, reported PTI. Kale was traced in a village in Jalna and was arrested on Friday by a crime branch team, with the assistance of local police, the police official said. During interrogation, it came to light that Kale was involved in at least 10 other cases, including of property theft and attempt to murder, registered at various police stations in Jalna and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the official said, reported PTI. The other two accused in the 2003 robbery case were still at large, the police said. (With inputs from PTI)
24 December,2024 12:30 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA team of Mumbai police was allegedly attacked by a mob at Ambivali railway station on December 4. Stone pelting incident at Ambivali railway station injures 4 Mumbai Police officers. The officers were there to apprehend an accused on the night of December 4, when the accused's relatives attacked them. Video credits: Navneet BarhateVia: @Apoorva_Agashe #MumbaiPolice… pic.twitter.com/9PNnzJPtTZ — Mid Day (@mid_day) December 5, 2024 According to GRP DCP Manoj Patil, a stone-pelting incident occurred at Ambivali railway station. “A team of Mumbai police had arrived to apprehend a suspect when they were attacked by a mob with stones. The mob was brought under control, and four officers were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment,” he told Mid Day. Stone pelting incident at Ambivali railway station injures 4 Mumbai Police officers. The officers were there to apprehend an accused on the night of December 4, when the accused's relatives attacked them. The Thane police have registered an FIR and are in the process of identifying the mob and apprehending the accused. “The mob had initially gathered outside the railway station premises, and therefore, the Thane police will investigate the matter,” he added. According to the police, the mob included relatives of the accused, and the police are currently investigating the matter. "The incident happened after the arrest of a person by MIDC police and no involvement of Railways in any way. Train operation was not affected. A few glasses were broken at the station because of the stone pelting. State police are taking action against the perpetrators based on footage shared with them for the overall incident," CR chief spokesperson Dr Swapnil Nila said. (With inputs from Rajendra B. Aklekar)
24 December,2024 11:11 AM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheA 70-year-old man who had been absconding for over three decades following the alleged murder of his wife has been apprehended by Navi Mumbai police. The accused, identified as Babu Gudgiram Kale, was arrested on Sunday near Mulund, a suburb of Mumbai, after being on the run since the incident in 1991. Kale had been evading authorities for 33 years, working as a labourer and flower seller in Mulund to sustain himself. The murder case dates back to January 28, 1991, when Kale allegedly murdered his wife during a domestic dispute. According to senior inspector Nitin Thackeray of Panvel Town police station, Kale is accused of dousing his wife with kerosene before setting her on fire in their home in Navi Mumbai’s Panvel area. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, later succumbed to her burn injuries while receiving treatment at a local hospital. Following the tragic incident, an FIR was filed against Kale under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to murder. A local court had issued an arrest warrant against him, but despite extensive efforts by law enforcement, he managed to remain at large for over three decades. According to PTI reports, the police pursued numerous leads over the years, using intelligence and technical inputs to track the fugitive. Initial tips suggested that Kale was living in the Mulund area of Mumbai, but the trail later took investigators to Parbhani, a city in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region. Police were able to track Kale’s movements using his mobile phone data and surveillance, ultimately leading to his capture in Mulund. The arrest came as a surprise to Kale, who had been hiding for over three decades. After his apprehension, he was brought before a local magistrate and remanded in police custody until January 3, 2025, as per PTI reports. The police have expressed satisfaction over the long-awaited arrest, noting that it marks the end of a decades-long manhunt for the fugitive. The authorities are now preparing to proceed with legal action against Kale as the case progresses in the courts. (With inputs from PTI)
24 December,2024 10:26 AM IST | MumbaiThe VP Road Police in Mumbai has apprehended an accused who was allegedly involved in a house break-in, burglary and theft case and recovered 3 kg of gold worth Rs 2.4 crore from him. From December 17 to 18, the complainant noticed that an unidentified person had entered his office and stole some cash and gold from the drawers, an officer said. After registering the first information report (FIR) in the case, the police launched a manhunt to nab the accused. “Based on CCTV footage, we identified the accused as Chandrabhan Patel. We have seized 3 kg of gold worth Rs 2.40 crore from his possession," the officer added. Patel has been booked under sections 305 (theft) and 331 (house trespassing) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to the police, the accused hails from Uttar Pradesh and used to sell clothes. “We are investigating if he is the only one involved in the crime or if he had an accomplice. We are also vertifying if he has previous criminal background,” the officer said.
23 December,2024 09:41 PM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheIn a major breakthrough in the Punjab terror conspiracy case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday arrested a key aide of designated Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and gangster Bachitar Singh alias Pavitar Batala. The accused, Jatinder Singh alias Jyoti, was absconding since the arrest of weapons supplier Baljit Singh alias Rana Bhai in July. Jatinder Singh, who is a resident of Gurdaspur district, Punjab, was arrested on Monday from Mumbai after extensive technical and on-ground efforts by NIA. The anti-terror agency has identified Jatinder Singh as a member of the terror gang formed by foreign-based Landa of the banned terrorist organisation, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and an aide of Batala, who is a close associate of Landa. Jatinder Singh was providing weapons to on-ground operatives of Landa and Batala in Punjab, as per NIA. He was allegedly procuring weapons from Madhya Pradesh (MP)-based supplier Baljit Singh alias Rana Bhai, who has recently been chargesheeted in the instant case. Investigations have further revealed that Jatinder Singh had brought 10 pistols from MP and delivered them to the operatives of Landa and Batala in Punjab, NIA said. He had planned to smuggle more weapons from MP into Punjab but was scuttled by NIA’s sustained search operations over the past several months. Jatinder’s arrest marks a major step forward in NIA’s efforts to dismantle the terror-gangster nexus by preventing smuggling of arms, ammunitions, explosives etc. and raising of funds for carrying out terrorist acts on the Indian soil.
23 December,2024 08:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPolice have arrested a 43-year old man for allegedly molesting a minor girl in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said on Monday, PTI reported. The incident took place when the eight-year old girl was alone at her house in Diva area on November 20, they said, but no reason was specified for the complaint being filed by her family after a month. The accused, who was her neighbour, allegedly touched the girl inappropriately and molested her, an official from Mumbra police station said. The victim's father lodged a police complaint on Saturday after which the accused was arrested and booked under section 72 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said. Earlier, the police in Maharashtra's Thane district registered a case against a couple for allegedly molesting a girl and thrashing her parents and grandmother, an officer said on Sunday. Citing the complaint, the officer said that a nine-year-old girl was recently playing outside her home in the Dombivali area when a man, who is her neighbour, called her to his house and allegedly touched her inappropriately. When the girl's mother confronted the neighbour over his behaviour, the man and his wife became aggressive. The couple allegedly assaulted the woman, her husband and mother, the officer added. The Manpada Police in Thane have booked the couple under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he added. In another incident, A man and two of his associates were arrested after a disturbing incident where they allegedly molested a woman during an argument, forcing her to prostrate and apologise. The incident occurred in Nagpur's MIDC area and came to light after a video of the altercation went viral on social media. According to police reports, the incident began on the night of December 18, when the woman confronted 38-year-old Vikas Borkar over his alleged mistreatment of a stray dog. After the argument, Borkar, along with his friends Rajesh Mishra and Pankaj Barekar, returned to the woman's location. In a shocking escalation of the confrontation, Borkar and his companions forced the woman to lie down on the ground, making her prostrate and apologise for the disagreement. The incident was recorded on video and quickly circulated across social media platforms, drawing widespread condemnation. The police acted swiftly after the woman filed a complaint, and Borkar, along with his two friends, was arrested under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. The police official from MIDC Police Station confirmed the arrests, adding that the accused were charged with molestation, assault, and other related offences. The woman, aged 44, has been provided support, and investigations are ongoing. "Such behaviour is absolutely unacceptable. We have taken immediate action, and the accused are in police custody," said a police spokesperson. The police also urged social media users to refrain from circulating videos of sensitive incidents, emphasising the need for privacy and respect for the victims. In the meantime, the incident has sparked outrage among residents and animal rights activists, with many calling for stronger action against those who harm animals. The woman, who reportedly acted out of concern for the stray dog, has been receiving support from various quarters for her courage in standing up to the accused. As per PTI reports, the police will continue to investigate the matter, ensuring that justice is served. (With inputs from PTI)
23 December,2024 01:05 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA group of 11 men brutally hacked a man to death in broad daylight in Dhule city on Tuesday. He was also shot in the head. CCTV footage of the gruesome incident was leaked and has since gone viral. Cops said this was done in an attempt to generate panic in the city. Vivek Pansare, deputy SP (Dhule), told mid-day, "We have short-listed some persons who have criminal records, and they are circulating the CCTV footage via WhatsApp and social media to create panic in the city. We are taking help from the Cyber Cell to identify the people who are spreading this video." Rival gangsThe victim, Rafiquddin Shafiquddin Shaikh alias Gudya (33), was booked in more than 30 criminal cases of extortion, rape and murder. He was out on bail. Also read - Caught on camera: Bhiwandi Congress leader brutally murdered, suspect identified "The killers and the deceased, all have criminal records. They hail from rival gangs," said an officer from Dhule police. Six teams have been formed to hunt the accused. The attack took place on the morning of July 18, while Shaikh was drinking tea at a roadside stall. The attackers arrived with swords and hockey sticks and stabbed him 27 times. After he collapsed, they dragged his body out of the tea shop and left it on the road, before escaping on bikes and scooters. Disturbing imagesThe disturbing video footage shows one of the assailants stabbing the victim repeatedly in the head, before he was pulled away by the others. Another video shot immediately after the attack shows Shaikh’s mangled body lying in a pool of blood. Also read - Watch video: Kabaddi player Sukhvinder Narwhal's murder caught on CCTV camera "We have initiated a departmental inquiry to find out how the video was leaked, because we strictly asked our staff not to reveal the video to the public due to the disturbing images," Pansare added. No arrests madeThe police have not made any arrests so far. With the help of the eyewitnesses, including the tea stall owner and staff, they have filed a First Information Report. The Shahar police registered the FIR against 11 accused under Sections 302 (murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation), along with the Arms Act, Bombay Police Act and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act. The accused have been identified as Vicky Goyal, Shyam Goyal, Bhima Devre, Dadu Devre, Vilas Goyal alias Chhota Papa, Vijay Goyal Alias Bada Papa, Rajesh Devre alias Badri and others. Vicky is booked in 10 criminal cases and Vijay has 11 criminal cases.
23 December,2024 12:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
