A 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.
26 December,2024 06:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA team of Mumbai police was allegedly attacked by a mob at Ambivali railway station on December 4. 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. 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)
26 December,2024 06:11 PM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheAn auto-rickshaw driver and eight others were held after a 28-year-old biker was killed in a road rage incident in Dindoshi, Malad. The victim was lynched and succumbed to injuries after a confrontation with the auto driver. The police are on the search for the other accused. According to the Dindoshi police, the incident occurred on Saturday evening on Daftary Road near Pushpa Park when the auto driver, identified as Avinash Kadam, made a sharp cut and overtook the bike rider. The Activa rider, Akash Maeen, confronted Kadam, which led to an altercation. During the investigation, it was revealed that Maeen injured the accused by hitting him with an object, which led his friends to join in and attack Maeen. A video of the incident surfaced, capturing the assault. In the footage, Maeen is seen thrown to the ground while his mother, Deepali, desperately tries to shield him by lying on top of him and holding him tightly. His father, Dattatry, also attempts to intervene but is attacked. Police reported that Maeen was rushed to a hospital, where he passed away later that night during treatment. Following the incident, a murder case was filed against Kadam and the others under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police also revealed that Maeen was riding with his wife at the time, on their way to visit his parents in Malad East for the Dussehra festival. Maeen’s wife was the pillion rider on the Activa, while his parents were in another autorickshaw heading towards Kurar.
26 December,2024 06:09 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe customs officers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai, intercepted five passengers arriving from Bangkok on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, and recovered hydroponic weed (marijuana), collectively worth Rs 26.48 crore, from them. The narcotic substances were concealed in double-layered silver-coloured plastic packets, which were further hidden inside multiple packets of chips, washing powder, diapers, and instant noodles, all placed within a trolley bags carried by the passengers. All the passengers were intercepted based on specific intelligence and spot profiling and arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, after a collective recovery of 26.481 kg of hydroponic weed was made from their possession. In the past three months, through a series of similar targeted operations, the officers of Mumbai Customs at CSMIA have intercepted and seized 115.5 kg of hydroponic ganja. These seizures have an estimated illicit market value of Rs 115.5 crore. "The ongoing operations, driven by meticulous profiling of suspected passengers by the officers and also specific intelligence received in some cases, are part of initiatives of customs officers at CSMIA, Mumbai Zone 3, targeting the disruption of illegal smuggling networks attempting to exploit the international airport's busy environment," the customs said in a press release. "These substantial seizures underscore the unwavering commitment and heightened vigilance of Mumbai Customs officers in combating drug smuggling and also in line with the Government of India’s Nasha Mukth Bharat campaign," the release further stated.
26 December,2024 06:00 PM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanThe police on Thursday said that a 48-year-old doctor had allegedly been duped of Rs 70 lakh by three persons, including a woman, who offered to sell him a flat in Maharashtra's Navi Mumbai township, reported news agency PTI. The accused showed a flat located in the Roadpali area of Kalamboli to the doctor and expressed their intention to sell it to him despite the fact that it had been already sold to someone else. They took Rs 70 lakh from the doctor but did not give him possession of the flat, an official from Kalamboli police station said while sharing an update on the Navi Mumbai crime, reported PTI. When the doctor demanded his money back, the accused evaded him. The doctor on Tuesday approached the police with a complaint, based on which a case was registered against the three accused under legal provisions for cheating and criminal breach of trust, the official said while sharing an update on the Navi Mumbai crime, reported PTI. Five booked for cheating land buyers in Navi Mumbai of Rs 2 crore The Navi Mumbai police have registered a case against the owner of a private company and four others for allegedly cheating 36 persons of more than Rs 2 crore in land sale deals, an official said on Thursday, reported PTI. The accused had entered into deals with the victims for the sale of land at Jui in the Uran area of Navi Mumbai since October 2017, reported PTI. They took Rs 2.07 crore from the victims, but neither gave them possession of the land nor returned their money, the official from Vashi police station said, reported PTI. The victims lodged a complaint, based on which the police on Tuesday registered a case against the company owner and four other persons associated with it on charges of cheating, he said. Nine booked in Thane for duping loan-seekers of Rs 1.74 crore The Thane police have registered a case against nine persons, including the owner of a financial consultant firm, for allegedly cheating people of Rs 1.74 crore under the pretext of helping them get loans, an official said on Monday, reported PTI. A 40-year-old builder, resident of Kamothe in neighbouring Navi Mumbai township of Maharashtra, in his police complaint alleged that the accused offered to help get a loan of Rs 4 crore sanctioned for his profession, and took Rs 24.41 lakh from him as the processing fee, reported PTI. In a similar manner, the accused also took money from various other persons and did not return it, the official from Naupada police station said without specifying the number of victims, reported PTI. The loan-seekers were collectively duped of Rs 1.74 crore, he said. Based on the complaint, the Naupada police here registered an FIR on Saturday against the financial consultant firm owner, a bank manager and seven others under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), 318(4) (cheating) and 3(5) (criminal act done by several persons in furtherance of the common intention of all), the official said. (With inputs from PTI)
26 December,2024 12:54 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentAn official on Thursday said that the police have seized the banned gutka valued at Rs 8.42 lakh from a tempo and arrested its driver in Maharashtra's Thane district, reported news agency PTI. The tempo was spotted on Tuesday evening opposite the Karivali police chowkie in the Bhiwandi area. During checking of the vehicle, the police found gutka being transported in it, the official from Bhoiwada police station said while sharing an update on the Thane crime, reported PTI. The gutka was seized and the vehicle was impounded. The 39-year-old tempo driver was arrested, the official said. During interrogation, the driver told the police that a man from Gaibibi Nagar had ordered the stock, the official said while sharing an update on the Thane crime, reported PTI. A case was registered on Wednesday against the accused under relevant legal provisions, the police added. Gutka valued at over Rs 32 lakh seized; one held In November, the police seized gutka valued at over Rs 32 lakh in Maharashtra's Thane district and arrested one of the four persons transporting the banned substance. Acting on inputs, police intercepted two tempos near the Soma Nagar locality of Bhiwandi. The vehicles were loaded with cartons of gutka, the official said while sharing an update on the Thane crime, reported news agency PTI. Gutka, which contains tobacco and other harmful products and can cause cancer, is banned in Maharashtra. While police were carrying out an inspection, three persons, including the driver of one of the tempos, escaped from the spot. Police arrested the driver of the other tampo and identified him as Ankit Rajendra Pal (26), the official said while sharing an update on the Thane crime, reported PTI. The seized gutka is worth over Rs 32 lakh, said Assistant Inspector S B Mahale of Bhoiwada police station, adding that a probe is underway to ascertain the source of the consignment and its intended destination. Rs 58.6 lakh gutka seized from tempo; driver held Last month, the police seized the banned gutka valued at Rs 58.68 lakh from a tempo and arrested its driver in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said. Acting on a tip, the police raided a premises at the ration office compound in Bhiwandi area. They found the tempo with gutka of various brands stocked in it, the official from Nizampura police station said. The 35-year-old tempo driver was arrested and after his questioning, the police came to know about three others involved in the illegal gutka trade, he said, adding that efforts were on to nab them, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
26 December,2024 12:42 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA senior police official on Thursday said that Maharashtra's Navi Mumbai township has seen a rise in drug-related crimes with 654 such cases being registered this year compared to 475 in 2023, reported news agency PTI. The total value of contraband seized in these Navi Mumbai drug cases was Rs 33.27 crore against Rs 22.97 crore last year, according to the official said citing the Navi Mumbai police's annual report. As many as 939 persons were arrested in 2024 for offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, compared to 811 last year, he said, reported PTI. Among those arrested in the Navi Mumbai drug cases, 58 were foreign nationals, predominantly Africans, marking a rise from 37 in 2023, the official said. The contraband seized from foreign nationals this year was valued at Rs 25.70 crore, an increase from Rs 11.61 crore in 2023, reported PTI. Among the seized drugs, cocaine accounted for the highest value at Rs 16.70 crore, a staggering increase from Rs 1.25 crore in 2023, the official said. The police seized mephedrone (MD) valued at Rs 12.67 crore, up from Rs 9.33 crore last year, while the MDMA seizure rose to Rs 29.98 lakh from Rs 22.10 lakh in 2023, he said, reported PTI. The seizures of ganja and brown sugar were also high, with the values increasing to Rs 67.83 lakh and Rs 30.10 lakh, respectively, compared to Rs 8.46 lakh and Rs 1.78 lakh last year. Besides, LSD blots valued at Rs 33.55 lakh were also seized, an increase from Rs 19.80 lakh in 2023, while charas seizure of Rs 67.81 lakh and methadone of Rs 55,000 were newly recorded in 2024, the official said, reported PTI. Conversely, some substances, such as methaqualone and tramadol, which recorded seizures valued at Rs 5.96 crore and Rs 3.64 crore, respectively, in 2023, were not confiscated this year, he said, reported PTI. Similarly, no heroin was seized in 2024, compared to the contraband of Rs 33,160 seized last year, the police added. (With inputs from PTI)
26 December,2024 12:30 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe main accused in the abduction and murder of a 12-year-old girl from Kalyan was brought to Thane early Thursday morning after his arrest in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district. Vishal Gawli, the prime suspect in the case, was arrested by the police on Wednesday from Shegaon, Buldhana, and transported to Thane around 6 am on Thursday. Following the necessary formalities, Gawli was placed in a police lockup in Thane city, with plans to present him in a Kalyan court later in the day, as confirmed by a crime branch official. Gawli, 32, tried to evade capture by disguising himself. He was apprehended while exiting a salon after shaving off his beard in an attempt to alter his appearance. Upon arrest, a medical examination was carried out in Buldhana before his transfer to Thane, where he is facing charges related to the kidnapping and murder of the young girl. The victim, a 12-year-old from Kolsewadi locality in Kalyan, was abducted on Monday afternoon while playing outside her home. Her body was discovered the following morning near Bhiwandi, located in the Thane district. Her distraught parents had filed a missing persons report at the Kolsewadi police station after searching for their daughter for several hours. Initially, an FIR was registered under Section 137 (kidnapping) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and a manhunt was launched to locate the missing girl. After the body was found, the police added Section 103(1) (murder) to the case. According to the police, Gawli, a resident of Kolsewadi, has a history of criminal activity, including property-related offences. Besides Gawli, his third wife, Sakshi Gawli, and another individual have been arrested in connection with the case. Sakshi Gawli, who works at a bank, was presented before a local magistrate on Wednesday and remanded to two days of police custody. The police are still investigating the motive behind the murder, with interrogations of around 10 people, including relatives and friends of the accused. They are also awaiting the results of the postmortem examination, with the possibility of adding charges related to sexual assault if evidence of rape is confirmed. Authorities have also seized an autorickshaw reportedly used in the crime. (With inputs from PTI)
26 December,2024 09:26 AM IST | MumbaiThe Versova police have obtained an order from the sessions court to re-arrest film producer Gunwant Tarachand Jain, also known as Nikesh Madhani, in connection with the rape of a 34-year-old actress and model. The investigator had filed a revision petition in the session court challenging the lower court's decision to release Madhani, based on claims that his initial arrest was allegedly illegal. Yesterday, during the hearing of the revision petition, the Dindoshi sessions court directed Madhani to surrender at the concerned police station immediately to comply with the court's order. Furthermore, the court stated that in the event of non-compliance, the investigating officer is authorised to arrest Madhani by the law to enforce the order. According to the police sources the Madhani was accused of drugging and raping a 34-year-old model and actress during a photoshoot. He was booked and arrested by the Versova police last month. The complaint in the FIR alleges that Madhani lured her by promising to cast her as the sister of actor Ajay Devgn’s character in the film Son of Sardar 2. "Madhani was booked and arrested under the rape charges by the Versova police last month but the court has released after ruling his arrest was illegal when he was produced before the court for granting remand custody by the Versova police officer. The court noted that Madhani was arrested at 10.56 pm on November 21, but the police informed him and his friend, Junaid Ishak Khan, of the grounds for arrest only at 11.00 pm—four minutes after the arrest. This sequence of events violated Section 47 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which mandates that the grounds for arrest must be communicated beforehand. Additionally, the arrest panchnama revealed that Madhani’s family members were not informed about his detention, further violating procedural requirements. These lapses prompted the court to declare the arrest unlawful, citing a breach of the accused’s fundamental rights. Madhani was produced before the court on November 22, at 3.20 pm. Investigating Officer PSI Sandip Nikam sought police custody, arguing that the accused required medical examination and further evidence collection. However, the defence counsel challenged the legality of the arrest, leading the court to review case records, including the FIR and the arrest documentation. The FIR was lodged at the police station on November 21 at 11 am and registered at 5.49 pm. The court found that the arrest violated legal provisions, including failure to follow the mandatory process under BNSS." said an officer from Versova police station. Victim's quote "After Madhani was released by the lower court, the state filed a revision petition in the sessions court. I, along with my legal team, appeared as an intervener. The court took notice of the matter and directed Madhani to surrender immediately," said the model while speaking to mid-day. She further stated, "Madhani has committed a serious crime, and the place for such people is jail." Other side "The woman accusing me of rape in March continued working with me on albums and events until August. Why didn’t she file a complaint earlier? There are WhatsApp messages between us in which no allegations were made. She mentioned in her Instagram post that her fame and progress have reached new heights, acknowledging my contribution to it," said Madhani. Police speak Senior Inspector Gajanan Pawar of Versova police station said, "The sessions court order was received yesterday evening, directing Madhani’s arrest. We have not received any order from the high court staying the arrest. The session court order has been received, and we are proceeding with his arrest."
26 December,2024 07:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe Khar police on Tuesday arrested two members of the Bol Bachchan Gang and also recovered gold jewellery worth Rs 1.31 lakh from them. Police have identified the two arrested accused as Arjun Bapunath Kale, 24, and Balaji Rohidas Pawar, 20, both residents of Gangakhed in Parbhani district. Police said that the two accused are wanted in more than 50 cases registered across various police stations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and suburbs. The notorious gang targeted senior citizens across Mumbai and Maharashtra by luring them with offers of free cash, sarees, and ration, said police, adding that the accused frequently changed their routes, clothes, and vehicles before and after committing crimes to hide their identities. According to the police, the gang would approach senior citizens on the road and offer them sweets, claiming that their boss had a son after many years and was so happy that he is distributing money, sarees, and ration for free. The gang would then instruct them to remove their jewellery and place it in their wallets or purses as they should appear poor in front of their boss and using sleight of hand, the accused would disappear with the victim's belongings. The arrest came following a complaint registered by one Salma Gulamnabi Qureshi, 73, a resident of Khar West. According to the complainant, one of the accused approached her while she was on her way to the market. The accused lured her by saying, “Our boss has had a son after many years and is distributing money and sarees to senior citizens. Please come with me.” Trusting the accused, the woman followed him, who then instructed her to remove her gold jewellery and put it in her purse. Believing him, Qureshi removed her gold chain and earrings and put them in her purse and handed it to the accused, who then disappeared, police said. The incident occurred on November 27, between 11.45 am and 12.35 pm, in the Khar Danda area. “After waiting for ten minutes, when the accused did not return, the victim realised she had been deceived and approached Khar police station to register an FIR,” said an officer at the Khar police station. Police said that to arrest the accused, the Khar police examined 350-400 CCTV cameras along the route the accused took that covered Khar, Bandra, Mahim and Andheri. The footage revealed that the suspects frequently changed routes, clothes, and auto-rickshaws to evade identification. Under the guidance of West Region ACP Paramjit Singh Dahiya, DCP Dikshit Gedam (Zone 9), and Bandra Division ACP Adhikrao Pol, a team was formed to catch the accused. Based on the description from the footage, the team identified the suspects with the help of sources and discovered that the accused were residents of the Parbhani district. Technical investigations revealed their temporary residences in Mumbai, and a tip-off confirmed their operations in the Khar, Bandra, Santacruz, and Kherwadi areas, said the officer mentioned above. Accordingly, a trap was set, and the suspects were apprehended near Western Railway Colony, SV Road, Khar West, while attempting to flee, said the officer, adding that they were taken into custody, and during interrogation, their involvement in the crime was confirmed. 50No. of cases registered against the accused persons
26 December,2024 07:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaA Mumbai cop suffered head injuries when a man obstructing traffic attacked him with a stick in Malad area of Mumbai, the police said on Wednesday, reported the PTI. The incident occurred Tuesday when 52-year-old 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. 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, according to the 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, as per the PTI. The 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, the news agency reported. Donning Santa Claus attire, cops urge people to follow rules Meanwhile, in a festive initiative, Antop Hill traffic police in the city on Wednesday conducted a special Christmas-themed awareness drive at key junctions in the area. Instead of imposing fines on traffic rules violators, the team led by senior inspector P I Patil used the holiday spirit to promote road safety. Dressed as Santa Claus, cops distributed free keychains to car drivers, motorbike riders, BEST bus drivers and taxi operators who were found breaking traffic rules. The drive emphasized the message that adhering to road safety rules is a gift not only to oneself but to the entire community. "We did not penalize traffic norms violators today due to Christmas. But our officers, holding placards in their hands, stood at various locations and conveyed the message that one should follow traffic norms. We wanted to give a positive message," said inspector Patil, as per the PTI. DCP (South-traffic) Pradnya Jedge said the initiative was implemented at 41 traffic checkpoints and 200 junctions. "The main objective of this initiative is not just to enforce the rules, but make every citizen aware of road safety and responsibility," the official said. (with PTI inputs)
25 December,2024 10:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
