Mumbai Police seized banned nylon manjha (kite string) and other material during a special drive in Mumbai and booked 19 people over the last four days ahead of Makar Sankranti 2025, an official said on Tuesday. A total of 19 individuals were either arrested or issued notices under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Police Act from January 10 to 13. Police seized nylon string or Chinese manja and related material of Rs 35,350 during the crackdown, the police said, as per the PTI. The nylon string used for flying kites was banned in view of safety risks to people. Many instances had come to the fore in the past wherein people suffered grievous injuries and fatalities due to nylon string. Organisers of kite-flying festival booked after Vasai biker suffers serious neck injury from Chinese manjha Meanwhile, in an another incident, an FIR was registered against the organisers of a kite-flying festival at Vasai after a 39-year-old motorcyclist suffered deep injuries in his neck from Chinese manjha on Sunday evening. The incident occurred when Vikram Dange was out with his wife and 10-year-old son in the Madhubani area, where the kite-flying festival was organised to celebrate the Makar Sankranti 2025 festival. Dange was luckily saved after his wife Neetal immediately wrapped her dupatta around his neck before he was taken to a nearby multi-speciality hospital. He received nine stitches at the hospital and was discharged on Monday. The doctors have advised him to take bed rest for nearly 25 days, Neetal told mid-day. “I have no issue with the kite-flying festival but the organisers should have taken precautions to ensure the safety of citizens in the area. It was a horrible incident,” she said. “Why do people continue to fly kites using the banned Chinese manjha? Every year, we witness tragic incidents, with some victims losing their lives on the spot. I fail to understand why this dangerous string is still being sold, or why people choose to use it, knowing it causes fatal accidents. It's really disgusting," said Neetal. Zonal Deputy Commissioner Pournima Chougule-Shringi told mid-day that Neetal filed a case at Valiv Police Station, following which an FIR was registered against Conceptual Advisory Services of Suraksha Smart City under the relevant sections of the BNS. “We have been taking action against those selling Chinese manjha, as it is banned in India. We request people not to endanger the lives of others by using Chinese manjha, which causes fatal accidents,” Shringi said, adding, “We have deployed many teams to conduct surprise checks in the markets where the thread is sold. We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to ensuring the safety and security of citizens." (with PTI inputs)
14 January,2025 09:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFour individuals, including two Nigerian nationals, were arrested in separate cases of drug possession in Thane and Palghar districts of Maharashtra, the police said on Tuesday, reported the PTI. Banned narcotics, including cocaine and MD (mephedrone), valued at more than Rs 12.80 lakh, were seized from their possession during the operations carried out last week, they said. In the first operation, Crime Unit V acted on a tip-off and set a trap at Wagle Estate in Thane city. The operation resulted in the arrest of three suspects - Nigerian national Onyedikachi Precious Ikechukwu, 24, and two others, Alam Abid Shaikh, 27, and Usman alias Sonu Abdul Kadir Sheikh, 37, said the police, according to the PTI. Cocaine weighing 101.16 grams and valued at Rs 10,12,000 was recovered from them, said the police, adding an FIR was registered against the trio under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. In the second operation, the Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police, acting on a tip-off, laid a trap at Nalasopara in Palghar city and apprehended a Nigerian national, identified as Anthony Chijiko Nyafore, 46, said the police. His search led to the recovery of 22.02 grams of MD, a synthetic stimulant drug, valued at Rs 2,69,340, they said. An FIR under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act has been registered in the case. Thane man held for killing acquaintance for harassing his wife Meanwhile, in an another incident, the police have arrested a 30-year-old man in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly killing an acquaintance who used to harass his wife, officials said on Tuesday, as per the PTI. On January 11, Sukant Shatrugana Parida (29) died in the house of the accused, Naresh Shambu Bhagat (30), who himself informed police about the man's death at his residence in Badlapur area, they said. The police sent the body to a government hospital for post-mortem and initially registered a case of accidental death. During the probe into the case, the police worked on several leads and detained Bhagat based on suspicion, a police release said. After extensive interrogation, Bhagat told the police that the deceased used to come to his house frequently and harass his wife which would lead to quarrels between the two men as well as the couple, it said. Fed up with Parida's behaviour, the accused hatched a plan to eliminate him. On January 10 night, the accused called him to his house, served him liquor and then allegedly hit on his head with a hammer and an iron rod following which the man died, the police said. The accused has been arrested and booked under section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), they said, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
14 January,2025 08:22 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe sharpshooter involved in the Sanpada firing case that took place on January 3 has been arrested by local police in Pune on Tuesday. According to the police, the shooter—Imran Qureshi—is a notorious criminal and a former member of the DK Rao gang, which was led by an aide of gangster Chhota Rajan. A resident of Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai, Qureshi has a long criminal record, including charges of attempted murder, murder, extortion, gang wars, and rioting, filed across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, and other parts of Maharashtra. He is described as a sharpshooter with exceptional shooting skills. In 2019, Qureshi, along with his partner Amjad Khan, was arrested by Mumbai Police for allegedly shooting and stabbing a man. Qureshi's weapon, which was used in the crime, has been seized by the police. He will be handed over to Sanpada Police for further investigation. On January 11, the Mumbai Crime Branch had nabbed the primary accused in the Sanpada firing case. According to the police, Santosh Gawli, a former garbage contractor, allegedly orchestrated the plan to kill his successor, Rajaram Thoke. Following an extensive manhunt conducted by the crime branch and Navi Mumbai Police officers, Gawli was apprehended in Pune. mid-day had earlier reported that Gawli was tracked by special police teams despite his technical acumen, which helped him evade capture. “He knew the tricks to remain untraceable, such as using different SIM cards and relying on WhatsApp calls instead of regular calls. Most of the time, he would place a call but disconnect after one ring — a method of communication to signal for money arrangements. He frequently switched SIM cards and turned off his phone after such missed-call cues, which significantly delayed our tracking efforts,” explained a police officer involved in the investigation. The officer added, “We knew he was near the Maharashtra border and had identified his tower location but not his precise spot. He kept moving using various modes of transportation. Initially, he was in Karnataka's Hubli, before travelling to Pune, which we deduced through technical investigations and information from local informants.”
14 January,2025 03:26 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerA court in Maharashtra's Thane district has sentenced a 50-year-old man to one-year imprisonment for beating up an on-duty policeman in Navi Mumbai in 2015, reported news agency PTI. Additional Sessions Judge K R Deshpande, in the order, passed on Monday, also imposed a fine of Rs 4,500 on the accused, Shailendra Mahendra Singh, belonging to Nerul in Navi Mumbai. Additional Public Prosecutor E B Dhamal told the court that on April 25, 2015, Anagha Vivek Kale, who is the complainant in the case, and her friends were proceeding in a car for some work, reported PTI. The accused, who was riding a motorbike, came in front of their car, and waylaid and abused them. The woman then contacted police and called for assistance. Assistant Police Inspector (API) Sachin Hire later arrived at the spot with his team. The accused abused them also, threatened them with dire consequences and manhandled the API, reported PTI. The other police personnel then overpowered the accused. He was arrested and later granted bail. The accused was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty), 341 (wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (uttering any word or making any gesture intended to insult the modesty of a woman), reported PTI. The judge noted the prosecution had successfully proved all the charges against the accused, and sentenced him to varying terms of imprisonment under different legal provisions, the maximum being one year, reported PTI. All the sentences are to run concurrently, the court said. It also directed that after the realisation of the fine amount from the accused, Rs 3,000 be given to the complainant woman and Rs 1,000 to the API. A total of five witnesses were examined to prove the charges against the accused, prosecutor Dhamal said. (With inputs from PTI)
14 January,2025 02:45 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe police on Tuesday said a man from Thane district in Maharashtra allegedly raped a 27-year-old woman, compelled her to marry him after blackmailing her and also burnt her with cigarette buts and hot 'tawa', reported news agency PTI. The ordeal started four years back after they became friends on social media, and police have now registered an FIR against the 38-year-old man and five of his family members, including mother, based on the victim's complaint, they said, reported PTI. The accused, a resident of Ulhasnagar town here, became friends with the victim, also a local resident, on Facebook in 2021. He later allegedly took her to a lodge in the town and raped her, an official from Vitthalwadi police station said, reported PTI. The accused made an objectionable video of the victim, threatened to upload it online if she refused his advances and raped her on multiple occasions, he said quoting the victim's complaint. The victim was later forced to marry the man following which he and his mother took her to Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh where they cut her hair and eyebrows and held her captive in a house, the police said, reported PTI. The man also allegedly singed the victim with cigarette buts and he and his mother hit her with a hot 'tawa', causing severe injuries to her, the official said. The accused also took away her Aadhaar and PAN cards as well as bank passbooks and misused her documents to avail loans, he said, reported PTI. They also threatened to upload her objectionable video online if she did not fulfil their demand for money from her father, the official said. The woman lodged a police complaint on Sunday, following which a case was registered against the man and his five family members under various Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections, including 64 (2) (m) (repeated rape), 74 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 75 (sexual harassment), 87 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc), 118(2) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 308(5) (extortion). No arrest has been made so far, the police said, adding a probe was on into the case. (With inputs from PTI)
14 January,2025 02:24 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentPolice have arrested a 30-year-old man in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly killing an acquaintance who used to harass his wife, officials said on Tuesday, reported news agency PTI. On January 11, Sukant Shatrugana Parida (29) died in the house of the accused, Naresh Shambu Bhagat (30), who himself informed police about the man's death at his residence in Badlapur area, they said, reported PTI. The police sent the body to a government hospital for post-mortem and initially registered a case of accidental death. During the probe into the case, the police worked on several leads and detained Bhagat based on suspicion, a police release said, reported PTI. After extensive interrogation, Bhagat told the police that the deceased used to come to his house frequently and harass his wife which would lead to quarrels between the two men as well as the couple, it said, reported PTI. Fed up with Parida's behaviour, the accused hatched a plan to eliminate him. On January 10 night, the accused called him to his house, served him liquor and then allegedly hit on his head with a hammer and an iron rod following which the man died, the police said, reported PTI. The accused has been arrested and booked under section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), they said. Nagpur man murders 'alcoholic' father; arrested Angry over his abuses, a 22-year-old man allegedly killed his father, a liquor addict, in a village in Nagpur district, police said on Monday, reported PTI. The deceased was identified as Tulshiram Maniklal Bisen (54), a resident of Dhamna village under Kuhi police station limits who worked as a mason, they said, reported PTI. Police have arrested his son Jitendra Bisen, who was working as a cook, and booked him on murder charges. According to the police, Tulshiram Bisen's family, which consisted of his wife and two sons, was fed up with his drinking habits, reported PTI. On Sunday night, he came home under the influence of liquor and started abusing Jitendra Bisen, who was alone at house. In a fit of rage, Jitendra Bisen attacked his father with an iron rod multiples times, said the police, reported PTI. Tulshiram Bisen suffered serious injuries on his head, neck, chest and died on the spot, they said. The incident came to light when the younger son of Tulshiram Bisen returned home and alerted the police. (With inputs from PTI)
14 January,2025 02:12 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentParubai Karad, mother of extortion case accused Walmik Karad, staged a protest outside the Parli police station in Beed district on Tuesday, demanding her son's release and claiming his innocence. Karad, an associate of Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde, was arrested on 31 December 2024, in connection with an extortion case tied to the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village. According to PTI reports, Parubai Karad vocally asserted her son’s innocence, stating, "My son has not done anything, and he should be released. Even if my life ends, I will not get up from here." The protest witnessed the participation of approximately 50 of Walmik Karad’s supporters, who gathered in solidarity outside the police station. When questioned about the allegations against her son, Parubai dismissed them as fabricated, saying, "I don’t know who is doing this, but this is all fake." She further accused BJP MLA Suresh Dhas and NCP (SP) MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar of falsely implicating her son and demanded their arrest. As per PTI, the police station in-charge at Parli declined to comment on the matter. The case revolves around the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, who was abducted, tortured, and killed on 9 December 2024. Preliminary investigations suggest that Deshmukh had attempted to thwart an extortion attempt targeting an energy firm operating a windmill project in the region. The Kej police have so far apprehended seven individuals in connection with the murder, while another suspect remains at large. Karad’s arrest pertains specifically to the extortion case linked to this incident. Meanwhile, the family of the deceased sarpanch has called for Karad to be charged with murder, intensifying the demand for further legal action. (With inputs from PTI)
14 January,2025 12:36 PM IST | MumbaiThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered an ECIR under relevant sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the Torres Ponzi scheme case. It is alleged that large-scale financial fraud took place in this case, where the accused duped lower-middle-class investors by promising high returns. According to sources, the ED’s case is based on an FIR registered by the Shivaji Park Police in Mumbai. The complainant, a vegetable vendor, claimed that approximately 1.25 lakh investors had invested in Torres. Given the seriousness of the matter, the case was later transferred to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for further investigation. The EOW has so far 2000 complainants who have invested with Torres. Meanwhile, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) investigating the Torres scam informed the court that the diamonds and stones sold to thousands of investors were fake. They established this during the initial stages of the investigation, while detailed reports on the gold jewellery are still awaited. Officials revealed that stones worth Rs 500 to Rs 1000 were sold at exorbitant prices in the guise of high-value gems. Most of the victims, primarily from the lower middle class, were duped using certificates displayed on a website, gra-gems.com, which was allegedly created by Ukrainian scammers. The three accused arrested in the case were produced before the court, and their custody has been extended for further investigation by the EOW. The EOW has discovered that the scam was a well-organised Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Ukrainians, primarily targeting the Indian lower middle class who could invest amounts between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000. The scammers created a website displaying details of the stones being sold, along with certificates provided to customers. Each certificate contained a unique number that could be scanned using a smart card, showing the stone’s details to reassure buyers. “Every customer was given identical smart cards with a scanner code. Even after the scam, the cards allowed customers to check the stone details for added satisfaction. In reality, the authenticity of such stones and diamonds is certified internationally by organisations like the GIA [Gemological Institute of America] and IGI [International Gemological Institute],” an officer explained.
14 January,2025 11:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanIn a case of breach of security, an accused in an attempted murder case was handed ganja (marijuana) inside the Ulhasnagar court premises on Monday. The contraband, concealed in a shoebox, was delivered by an unidentified man who escaped by breaking a cement grill on first floor and jumping out of it. The accused, identified as Harshad Sakat, was arrested by Vithalwadi police in connection with an attempted murder case. On Monday, while being presented in court, Sakat was approached by an unidentified man who handed him the box. The attempt to murder accused Harshad Sakat; (right) the cops inspecting the box. Pics/Navneet Barhate According to officials, court protocols strictly prohibit interactions or exchanges with accused persons. Authorities quickly seized the box, but the unidentified man managed to flee. He ran towards the exit, broke through a cement grill on the first floor, jumped to the ground, and escaped. Upon inspecting the shoebox, the police discovered 250 grams of ganja hidden beneath a pair of slippers. Investigators are now probing whether Sakat requested the drugs for personal use or if he was a middleman tasked with delivering the drugs to inmates at Adharwadi Jail in Kalyan, where he is currently lodged. Special police teams have been formed to trace and apprehend the suspect. Meanwhile, authorities are working to bolster security measures at the court premises to prevent such incidents in the future.
14 January,2025 09:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerThe Economic Offences Wing (EOW) investigating the Torres scam informed the court that the diamonds and stones sold to thousands of investors were fake. They established this during the initial stages of the investigation, while detailed reports on the gold jewellery are still awaited. Officials revealed that stones worth Rs 500 to Rs 1000 were sold at exorbitant prices in the guise of high-value gems. Most of the victims, primarily from the lower middle class, were duped using certificates displayed on a website, gra-gems.com, which was allegedly created by Ukrainian scammers. The three accused arrested in the case were produced before the court, and their custody has been extended for further investigation by the EOW. Sarvesh Surve, an accused in the Torres investment scam, arrested by the police. Pic/Ashish Raje The EOW has discovered that the scam was a well-organised Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Ukrainians, primarily targeting the Indian lower middle class who could invest amounts between R40,000 and R50,000. The scammers created a website displaying details of the stones being sold, along with certificates provided to customers. Each certificate contained a unique number that could be scanned using a smart card, showing the stone’s details to reassure buyers. “Every customer was given identical smart cards with a scanner code. Even after the scam, the cards allowed customers to check the stone details for added satisfaction. In reality, the authenticity of such stones and diamonds is certified internationally by organisations like the GIA [Gemological Institute of America] and IGI [International Gemological Institute],” an officer explained. Pictures of the diamonds and precious stones from the fake website created by the Ukrainian scammers ‘Many accused have fled’ According to the EOW, 11 foreign nationals involved in the case are currently absconding, and look-out circulars (LOCs) have been issued against them. However, most of them appear to have already fled the country. The EOW has identified Olena Stoian as the mastermind behind the scam, with several associates working under her, including one Artem (full name unavailable). “The scammers seemed to have meticulously planned the operation and were supposed to flee the country during Christmas, as per their strategy. The visas of those who have fled are set to expire within the next month, suggesting that their plan was to conclude the scam by the end of 2024 and leave during the Christmas period, a time when their departure would seem less suspicious,” an EOW officer said. Viktoriia Kovalenko, a Ukrainian national allegedly involved in the Torres investment racket According to the EOW, the two foreign nationals arrested in the case—Tania alias Tazagul Khatasova and Russian national Valentina Kumari (an OCI cardholder)—have been remanded to further custody by the court. Officials stated that both accused were not cooperating with the investigation. Khatasova, in particular, is suspected to be a key figure, as she was previously arrested in 2008 by Sahar police for possessing a fake passport under the alias Mariyam Kharakhan Gizi. The EOW is verifying details related to that case. Kumari, on the other hand, appears to have been used by the scammers for office-related work due to her foreign accent and appearance. Officials revealed that Khatasova has been living in India for many years and seems to have an extensive understanding of the operations. During the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Rs 62 lakh was seized by Dongri Police, and Khatasova allegedly intervened to settle the matter. “The income tax department is looking into how money that is suspected to belong to the Torres company was released,” an EOW officer stated. So far, 2000 complainants have come forward, reporting a total fraud amount of Rs 38 crore. The EOW has seized items and cash worth Rs 21 crore, including 11 Toyota Glanza cars. “People are advised not to fall prey to scams promising hefty returns. We also appeal to the investors of the Torres scam to come forward and lodge complaints with us,” said Sangramsinh Nishandar, DCP, EOW. Rs 38crAmount of money victims were duped of
14 January,2025 07:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanThe Ulhasnagar Police in Maharashtra have arrested two women for allegedly stealing valuables and cash from multiple households under the pretext of begging. The first incident occurred at Valmiki Nagar in Ulhasnagar, according to police officers. The women, accompanied by a baby, allegedly used the child as a distraction to execute their thefts. The complainant, who later approached the police, had CCTV cameras installed near her house that captured the women entering her residence. In her statement, the complainant recounted that one of the women handed her the baby, diverting her attention, while the other attempted to steal her mobile phone. The second woman also allegedly searched the house during this distraction. Realising their intentions, the complainant confronted them and demanded they leave her house. When the complainant discussed the incident with her neighbors, they reported experiencing similar encounters involving the same women carrying a baby. Following the registration of an FIR, the police launched an investigation under the supervision of DCP Sachin Gore (Ulhasnagar Division). Special teams analysed the CCTV footage to identify the suspects. Initially, the police suspected that the women were a part of a child-stealing gang. However, the investigation revealed that the baby was being used as a prop to divert attention while the thefts were carried out. The accused have been identified as Raveen Ramesh Waghere, 40, and Khushi Nut, 20. They were arrested from the Ambernath area, said Vishnu Tamhne, senior inspector, Ulhasnagar Police Station. The women, who do not have a permanent residence, confessed to the crimes during questioning. The police have recovered the stolen mobile phones and cash from their possession. The accused were produced in court and have been remanded to judicial custody, Tamhne added.
14 January,2025 12:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerADVERTISEMENT
