The Navi Mumbai Police in Maharashtra has been hosting live sessions on their official social media platforms and appealing to the common people to join the free sessions to timely identify a cyber fraud. The Navi Mumbai Police has launched a cyber awareness campaign to educate people about changing trends of cyber frauds and one such awareness campaign is the traffic e-challan fraud. Through their e-challan awareness campaign, the Navi Mumbai Police are warning residents about receiving fake traffic e-challans, an online ticket for traffic violations, and putting in place a dedicated helpline number for Navi Mumbai residents. "Fraudsters are sending fake e-challan messages to trick people into making payments. For any assistance, contact our helpline: 8828112112," an awareness social media post reads. To help people verify the authenticity of these e-challans, the police launched an awareness campaign on how one can protect from falling victim to cyber fraud. To spread awareness, the Navi Mumbai Police is regularly organising workshops on their social media platforms as they aim to educate people about the changing trends of cyber fraud and how to recognise fraudulent communications by cybercriminals. "Some of these messages contain incorrect details or look unprofessional. The police advise people to check the validity of any e-challan before making payments to entertaining messages or calls for money collections against any traffic e-challan," an official said. Cyber experts say that cyber fraudsters are quick to change patterns of scamming people online. One such scam is the fake traffic e-challan cyber fraud where a fraudster sends a message along with a link, upon clicking on the link, the page directs a person to a payment gateway which is a fake one and it leads to a person losing his money. Similar frauds are done even through calls where the fraudsters trick a person into sharing an OTP. Ritesh Bhatia, a leading Mumbai-based cyber expert told mid-day, "Fraudsters in such cases don’t hack into a person’s account. Instead, they manipulate the individual using various deceptive tactics. Often, they create a sense of urgency, pressuring the person to share their OTP, leading to an immediate transaction. For example, they may request a small payment but use the person's details to carry out a much larger transaction." He said, to protect yourself from e-challan fraud, the best approach is to verify thoroughly. You can always consult a traffic officer with a machine who can physically check and confirm the challan. Most importantly, don’t panic if you receive a message or call regarding an e-challan. Authorities provide ample time to settle the challan, so there’s no need to respond immediately to any call or message until you’ve verified it through an official source, such as the website or app." Bhatia added, "These messages often induce panic by claiming urgent traffic violations. Don’t be misled by suspicious links or fake websites. Always verify details through the official Parivahan website (parivahan.gov.in). Pay attention to the domain ending in “.gov.in.” If in doubt, reach out to local traffic authorities. Don’t rush into making payments—verify with authorities before taking any action." The Navi Mumbai Police, through their awareness campaigns, stress the importance of being vigilant and informed. Some key points to understand how to verify an e-challan Official Website: Always check the official Navi Mumbai Traffic Police website or the Maharashtra Government's traffic portal. Genuine e-challans will be listed there. Contact Police: If you receive an e-challan that looks suspicious, call the helpline to confirm its authenticity. Check Details: Look for the correct vehicle details and the violation description in the e-challan. If anything seems off, it may be fake. Payment Channels: Only pay fines through official channels. Avoid third-party websites or unknown links.
05 October,2024 11:51 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA case has been registered against two men for allegedly sexually assaulting a 29-year-old woman, who has gone missing after reporting the crime, police said on Friday. The police have launched a search for the victim who went missing from a women’s shelter where she was lodged after the assault, a police officer said. The incident came to light on September 22 after the victim was admitted to a hospital in the Nerul area of Navi Mumbai, he said. A team from the Nerul police station recorded the woman’s statement, in which she alleged that two men sexually assaulted her near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai, the police officer said. A case was registered at the CSMT Railway police station, and after the initial probe, it was transferred to the MRA Marg police station, he said. Investigations are underway, and the police are searching for the woman and the two accused, the officer said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 October,2024 08:16 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesThe Kopri police have arrested a woman and her friend who assaulted a man who was blackmailing the former to have a physical relationship with him, threatening to make her obscene photographs viral on social media. Following the assault, the blackmailer was admitted to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. According to the police, the deceased—Swayam Satish Paranjpe, 33—was dating the woman and had clicked nude pictures of her after spiking her drink. He used these pictures to blackmail her. The woman opened up to her friend about the incident who then tried to intervene and requested Paranjpe to delete the pictures. However, Paranjpe and the woman’s friend had an argument, after which he hit Paranjpe in the head with an object, leading to his death. The Kopri police are investigating the matter. Swayam Satish Paranjpe, the deceased The police said Paranjpe met the woman in a marriage ceremony on April 28. The woman is a resident of Koliwada in Thane West, while Paranjpe was a resident of Sanchar Society in Kopri. They became friends and started dating. During one of their meetings, the Paranjpe offered the woman a drink while in his car and claimed that he was taking her on a long drive. He then took the woman to his house. “He spiked her drink, took her to his house and clicked nude pictures of her when she was unconscious. After the incident, he frequently started harassing the woman to meet him, threatening to make her nudes viral if she didn’t comply. The woman got tensed and informed her friend Mayuresh Nandakumar Dhumal, 24, a resident of Jambli Naka in Thane, about the incident,” said an officer from Kopri police station. Sources alleged that Dhumal is the son of a retired cop. On Friday morning, the woman and Dhumal went to meet Paranjpe at his rented apartment. “They requested him to delete the pictures but he was not ready to listen and instead started threatening them. This resulted in an argument between Dhumal and Paranjpe. Dhumal repeatedly hit Paranjpe with a sharp object (koyta) on his head and injured him. Paranjpe was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries,” said an officer, adding that Paranjpe was struck around 30 times. The Kopri police have registered a murder case against the woman and her friend Dhumal. The duo has been detained. “A case has been registered for murder under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and investigations are going on. The accused will be produced in court today,” said an officer.
05 October,2024 08:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Faisal TandelThane’s Chitalsar Manpada police have registered a first information report (FIR) based on a complaint filed by a woman who alleged that she was molested by several people during a party organised at a hotel. According to the complaint, the alleged incident took place at De Aura Global Dining and Bar in Thane, as per the FIR, on September 21. A complaint was filed on September 30. The 35-year-old woman, a resident of Goregaon, was the host of the event where the alleged incident took place. She was approached via a Facebook group, namely ‘Professional People’s Business & Parties Mumbai’s Group.’ According to the woman, after joining the group, she received a text from a man named Nitin Thorat on Facebook Messenger. The woman said that Thorat, who identified as an event organiser, sent her a WhatsApp link to join multiple groups. Throat was promoting an event on social media, offering attractive prices. The woman was enticed with the promise of receiving 50 per cent of the total bill generated from the event. The woman said that she later received multiple texts from Thorat on September 17 and 18, in which he shared the details of the work and also met him on September 19. During the meeting, Thorat told her that she would be required to host an event on September 21, and her role would involve entertaining guests, encouraging them to order expensive food and drinks, and she would get 50 per cent of the total bill generated. The woman agreed to the terms, however, on the evening of the event, she claimed that Thorat took her onto the dance floor and began touching her inappropriately, and later others also joined him. Feeling uncomfortable, the woman confronted Thorat, who dismissed her concerns and asked her to ignore the behaviour. The woman said that she approached the police on September 30 and registered an FIR. Chitalsar Manpada police confirmed that based on the woman’s complaint, Thorat and three others have been booked under sections 74, 75(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and an investigation into the matter has been launched. Meanwhile, Thorat claimed the charges to be baseless and said that the woman was so intoxicated on the night of the event that he himself had gone to drop her off. He also questioned her intentions, claiming that if the alleged incident took place on September 21, then why was the complaint registered nine days later. “None of the members had any ill intentions, nor did anyone act improperly. She consumed alcohol and now seems to want to defame us with the intent of blackmail,” Thorat claimed.
05 October,2024 08:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanWhile the Mumbai police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is investigating allegations of ticket scalping related to the British band Coldplay’s concert, the city police are now receiving complaints about fake tickets being sold by cyber scammers. These scammers are reportedly listing their contact numbers on Google and the dark web. One such complaint was lodged at Chunabhatti police station by an 18-year-old college student, who claimed to have booked 24 tickets worth Rs 2,17,500. However, the email confirmation he received, purportedly from BookMyShow, turned out to be fake. According to the FIR registered with the Chunabhatti Police, a case has been filed under Sections 66(c) and 66(d) of the IT Act. The complainant, identified as Virendra Jain, a resident of Chunabhatti, lodged the complaint on October 3. In his statement, Jain said that on September 24, while searching for tickets to the Coldplay concert scheduled for January 2025, he found a contact number on Google claiming to sell tickets. He proceeded to book the tickets and made a payment of Rs 7,000 via UPI. “I was excited about the concert and, after finding this contact on Google, I made the payment. My friends, who were also looking for tickets, asked about it, so I shared the number with them to book theirs as well. Altogether, we purchased 24 tickets, paying a total of R2,17,500,” Jain told mid-day. The FIR further mentions that the passes Jain received via email came from the address confirmation@book-my-show.co. “One of my relatives noticed the email ID and pointed out that it seemed suspicious. That’s when we realised the passes might be fake and approached the police to file the FIR,” Jain said. According to Jain, the scammer, during a WhatsApp call, claimed that the available passes ranged from R7,000 to R15,000. Trusting the information, Jain proceeded to book the tickets. Meanwhile, the EOW, which is conducting a preliminary inquiry (PE) based on the complaint filed by advocate Amit Vyas, has received some data from BookMyShow, including server information used for booking the tickets. “We have asked specific questions to BookMyShow, including details about the computers and servers involved in selling the tickets, as well as information on the payment transactions they received from individuals who purchased them. Some details have been provided, and our team is currently examining them to determine if there is any connection between the tickets sold by BookMyShow and those available on other platforms at different prices,” an EOW officer said. In addition to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), the Vile Parle Police have filed a case against an unknown individual for selling tickets on the black market. The FIR does not name anyone specifically, but BookMyShow has identified 30 individuals, including Viagogo, claiming they were involved in the illegal sale of tickets. Sources within the EOW expressed surprise at the FIR, as they were already investigating BookMyShow, which is now listed as the complainant in the case. Advocate Vyas raised serious concerns regarding the FIR filed by the Vile Parle Police. He said, “I suspect this is an attempt by BookMyShow to shift the focus onto minor black marketers, thus diverting attention from its own involvement. I am also puzzled by the urgency with which the Vile Parle Police registered an FIR on a matter already under investigation by the EOW, particularly given that it appears to be an economic offence exceeding R10 crore. This raises questions about administrative propriety, and I hope higher authorities take note of it.” 24No. of tickets purchased by the student ‘Assessing cancellation of tickets being sold unethically’ Online ticket aggregator BookMyShow said on Friday that it is assessing the potential cancellation of tickets that are being sold “unethically.” “We remain vigilant in monitoring such instances of ticket reselling for this tour through black market channels and will continue to share all relevant information with the authorities to ensure appropriate action is taken. BookMyShow is assessing potential cancellation of such tickets that are being sold unethically,” said the official spokesperson of BookMyShow. “Our stance remains clear and unchanged. BookMyShow vehemently condemns and opposes ticket reselling, which is deemed illegal and is punishable by law in India,” the spokesperson added. “We have provided details to the police of all resellers that have come to our attention, including independent individuals reselling tickets for this tour across social media platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and beyond, as well as digital platforms such as Viagogo, Stubhub Holdings, and more, to aid authorities in a thorough investigation.”
05 October,2024 07:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan Khan
On September 23 evening, the Thane Police shot dead Akshay Shinde, accused of sexually molesting two toddlers in a school in Badlapur. The killing, widely known as the Badlapur encounter, police claimed was done in self-defence since the accused managed to get ahold of an assistant police inspector's service revolver and opened fire. The police said they were en route to Badlapur from Taloja Jail to conduct a probe into a third case filed against him by Shinde's ex-wife. While they were on the stretch of Mumbra bypass, the cops claimed, the deceased tried to escape custody and was shot dead. While the Mahayuti government and its supporters celebrated this "encounter", the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi and several others raised questions. The Bombay High Court, while hearing a petition filed by Akshay Shinde's father Anna, too raised some questions--they sought to know how four policemen could not overpower Shinde; how did he manage to not only grab the gun but load it and fire it and lastly, why did the cops directly shoot him in the head as opposed to his leg as suggested in the SOPs. Badlapur encounter exposes extra-judicial killings In India, encounter killings—often involving police or military personnel—have long been a subject of intense debate. These killings, where law enforcement personnel shoot down alleged criminals in what is often described as an act of self-defence, have brought up critical questions regarding the legality, human rights, and police accountability. The recent "encounter" of Akshay Shinde has once again spotlighted the issue of extra-judicial killings in the country. High-profile encounters and a history of controversy An encounter killing, also known as extrajudicial killing, happens when law enforcement officials kill a suspect or alleged criminal while claiming self-defence. These occurrences are frequently presented as spontaneous reactions to immediate dangers posed by the suspects. However, critics believe that these executions are intentional and violate fundamental human rights, such as the right to a fair trial, as guaranteed by the Indian constitution. India has seen several high-profile encounter killings, mainly in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana. These encounters sparked considerable media coverage, public debate, and requests for accountability from human rights organisations. Some of India's most high-profile encounter cases have exposed the tensions between the public's desire for immediate justice and the rule of law. The Vikas Dubey encounter in 2020, in which the reputed gangster was slain by the Uttar Pradesh Police while being taken from Ujjain to Kanpur, drew widespread criticism. Many people questioned the circumstances of Dubey's death. Another high-profile encounter occurred in the Hyderabad rape case in 2019 when four men accused of raping and murdering a 25-year-old woman were slain by police during an alleged encounter. The encounter was highly denounced, with many accusing the police of arranging a bogus encounter to avoid a long trial. In Uttar Pradesh, several high-profile encounters have occurred in the previous decade, notably the killing of Lakhan Bhaiya, an accused close aide of Chhota Rajan, by Mumbai police in 2006. The incident sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning the circumstances behind Lakhan Bhaiya's death. These interactions have spurred arguments concerning police enforcement's use of force, and the necessity for increased accountability and openness in such incidents. The legal framework governing encounter killings Advocate Asim Saorde condemned the Badlapur encounter and said that any thought or action that supports an encounter is a criminal thought/ act. He said that the law does not allow anyone’s life to be taken. Adv Sarode, who is fighting a pro-bono case of one of the toddlers sexually assaulted by Shinde, told mid-day.com, “Even the terrorist Kasab–who had killed many and attacked us just for being Indians–was given a proper trial. A lawyer was appointed for him to fight his case. We did not subvert in a grave situation as such, upholding the rule of law and he was then given death penalty.” He said that encounter killings cannot be justice since they subvert the rule of law. When asked whether, under Indian law, there are any provisions regarding encounters, Advocate Bindu Dubey said, “Indian legal framework does not explicitly justify encounter killings since the law places a strong emphasis on due process and right to life, enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution.” She added that the law enforcement agencies are “not permitted” to take matters into their own hands and that any encounter killing by the cops must be legally justified “as an act of self-defence or in defence of others under Sections 96 to 106 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) i.e. Section 34 to 44 of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS)”. These provisions allow the use of force, including lethal force, only when it is necessary to protect life or prevent grievous harm, and even then, the force used must be proportionate to the threat. Courts scrutinise the claim of self-defence, and it cannot be used as a blanket justification for extrajudicial killings, she added. Elaborating further, Adv Sarode said that the courts–Supreme Court and High Courts–have said that the Right to Life is a fundamental right and they have reiterated the same stances in cases like the State of Maharashtra vs PUCL of 2014. Adv Bindu said, “The Supreme Court, in cases like PUCL vs State of Maharashtra (2014), laid down strict guidelines for handling cases of encounter killings, mandating the registration of FIRs, independent investigations, and judicial or magisterial inquiries to ensure accountability. These guidelines are aimed at preventing misuse of power and ensuring that any encounter killing is subject to legal review.” Also Read: Badlapur encounter: ‘Why was he shot in the head?’ The two advocates stated that the police cannot bypass judicial processes and that they have to prove the killing was in defence. While the law recognises the need for law enforcement to act in defence, it does not allow police to bypass judicial processes, and any killing must be proven lawful through an impartial investigation. According to the 2014 People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) rules, each interaction should be examined independently by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) or a police team from another district. When asked about their opinion of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines about encounter killings, Adv Sarode said that it was trying to bring culprits to the front by putting some conditions to fulfil certain criteria and document & report everything–like post mortem report, the incident report and ballistic report within the first 48 hours. Again, after killing, there is a guideline for it. The Supreme Court has narrated it as illegal, said Sarode. Human rights and the rule of law The long-running argument about encounter killings revolves around the balance between preserving law and order and safeguarding human rights. Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have regularly raised concerns that extrajudicial murders undermine the justice system. By circumventing legal procedures and depriving individuals of a day in court, encounter murders jeopardise the rule of law and the very foundation of democracy. Speaking to mid-day, Teesta Setalvad, a human rights activist and Secretary of Citizens for Justice & Peace, said, “We don't have a human rights culture; we have a more kind of primitive feudal culture of tit for tat, revenge, This is evident not only in family disputes but also in how conflicts are resolved in wider society. So when we talk of a modern, we talk about evolved concepts or modern concepts like the rule of law, and presumption of innocence until proven guilty.” With the calls for encounter killings, Teesta said, the Indian society is subverting the whole question of a police investigative agency's responsibility to conduct a probe. “Thorough investigations require responsibility, proper forensic evidence gathering, and a rational approach that seeks to establish the crime beyond doubt. However, these processes face significant challenges due to a pervasive sense of immunity and impunity granted to law enforcement. Laws like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) provide complete protection to police and federal forces in areas under its jurisdiction. Similarly, many counter-terrorism laws contain provisions that shield officers from prosecution, even in cases of abuse,” she said. Teesta further added, “This raises a broader question: does society truly value the rule of law and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, or does it seek immediate retribution? Despite numerous judgments from the Supreme Court, High Courts, and Constitutional Courts condemning extra-judicial killings, there remains a disconnect between legal principles and societal attitudes. Political rhetoric often reinforces the latter, contributing to a culture of impunity.” In the past decade, we’ve seen the state—meaning both the union government and its agencies—actively deciding who they deem as enemies of the state or the nation. These could include human rights defenders, journalists, activists, minorities, and the disenfranchised. By doing so, they are essentially justifying the use of extrajudicial methods against a segment of their population, she added. Long-term consequences of extra-judicial killings While many residents, irritated by the inefficiencies of the court system, may embrace encounters, the long-term repercussions of normalising extra-judicial executions are concerning. Such methods promote a culture of impunity within the police force, reducing accountability. This could lead to an increase in human rights violations and a loss of public trust in the legal system. Adv Sarode said, “Emotionally driven actions cannot be justified by the law. When laws are made, they are not designed to address singular situations or incidents. The law adopts a holistic approach that serves as a social framework to be followed. While exceptions may arise under the influence of strong emotions, even if those emotions are illegal, they should not be celebrated or politically supported. This kind of emotional justification can distort the situation.” "We should feel sad about the Badlapur encounter because the due process of justice has been killed," Adv Sarode said. "Emotionally driven actions (like encounters) cannot be justified by law; if such exceptions are taken--even though illegal and politically supported--could lead to havoc. If people are angry and emotional and politicians are worried; they should focus on the earliest dispensation of justice. Short-term solutions (like encounter) give the permit for the public to move towards lawlessness," he said and added, "Chief Minister and Home Minister's uneducated responses contradict their responsibilities. They are lawmakers, they should not be advocating for such illegalities." He further added that the role of law enforcement is often misunderstood. Police officers are tasked with maintaining law and order, but they are not the authority to deliver justice. We have a separate system—the judiciary, which operates independently of all other authorities. Its sole purpose is to ensure justice is served impartially. The police must apprehend individuals and present them before the court, which is the appropriate body to distinguish right from wrong and deliver justice. Answering a query on the impact of encounters, Adv Bindu said, “Encounter killings pose serious implications for the rule of law and the judicial system, as they undermine the core principles of due process and justice. When law enforcement agencies take the law into their own hands, it erodes public trust in the legal system and creates a dangerous precedent where extrajudicial actions are normalized. This bypasses the judicial process, depriving accused individuals of a fair trial and the right to defend themselves, which are fundamental constitutional rights.” Meanwhile, Teesta said that she does not advocate for “this kind of use of the gun” by the policeman towards anybody. “I believe that (encounters) will decapacitate the police from proper investigation. Decapacitate the police from rational thinking and allow the gun to be the determination of justice and not a proper investigation and reasoned judgment,” Teesta added. Badlapur encounter: What next? When asked about ‘what next’ and who is responsible for curbing encounters, Teesta noted, “I believe it’s the responsibility not only of activists and human rights groups but also of the media, policymakers, and thinkers—anyone who truly believes in the rule of law under the Constitution. That’s one key aspect,” She added, “Secondly, it’s time that India’s law enforcement and government start paying attention to international standards like the UN mandate and the Minnesota Protocol, which have been developed with thoroughness.” She added “We need to consider the response, not just to the Badlapur incident or the Aizawl case, but also to Ateeq Ahmed’s killing in Uttar Pradesh. Whether or not he was a gangster is a part of the story. I don't advocate the use of guns by police towards anyone because this approach ultimately incapacitates the police. It prevents them from conducting proper investigations, encourages irrational thinking, and makes the gun the arbiter of justice instead of reasoned. judgment and due process.”
04 October,2024 09:07 PM IST | Mumbai | Sanjana DeshpandeThe Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested 36 people, including six women, for allegedly running fake call centers in the Jogeshwari and Goregaon areas. The gangs targeted foreign nationals by selling banned medicines such as Viagra, Tramadol, Cialis, and Levitra. Some members of the gang also duped Indian nationals by offering fake loans and promising to improve their CIBIL scores. Their operations were conducted via internet voice calls. Units 10 and 12 of the Mumbai Crime Branch carried out the raids in the case recently. “The suspects allegedly lured international customers into purchasing non-existent pharmaceutical products through online platforms. During the raids, the police seized a total of 35 equipment, including laptops and mobile phones, which were used in the operations as well as other evidence linking the suspects to the fraudulent call centres,” said Vishal Thakur, Deputy Commission of Police (DCP), Detection-1. Unit 10 arrested individuals linked to two companies: Gate Pharma LLP and All Win Info Media Pvt Ltd in Mumbai. These companies posed as legitimate pharmaceutical firms to scam foreign customers. Meanwhile, Unit 12 apprehended members of another company involved in similar fraudulent activities, including providing fake loans to Indian nationals.
04 October,2024 07:57 PM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanAs the police have failed to press murder charges in the Worli hit-and-run case, the victim’s family is planning to file a writ petition in the Bombay High Court. The charge sheet, filed on October 2, reveals that the family of the accused conspired to protect him on the day of the accident. Due to the misleading information provided by the family, the police were delayed by 17 minutes in arresting Mihir Shah, one of the main accused. mid-day has gained access to the charge sheet, which confirms that the Worli police were 17 minutes late in reaching the spot where Mihir was hiding. Since the incident, the police have recorded statements of 54 witnesses. Mihir Shah leaving the Sewri court on July 16. File Pic/Shadab Khan On July 7, Mihir Shah’s BMW car rammed Pradeep Nakhwa and his wife Kaveri near Atria mall in Worli. While Pradeep suffered minor injuries, Kaveri was dragged for nearly 3 km by Mihir’s driver Rajrishi Bidawat who didn’t stop after the collision. Kaveri later succumbed to her injuries. According to the charge sheet, Mihir and Bidawat are the main accused. Mihir’s father Rajesh, a former leader of the Eknath Shinde Sena faction, and the entire family was aware of the accident soon after it occurred. The charge sheet also revealed that after the accident, Mihir made 64 unanswered calls to his female friend, Kushi Shah, before arriving at her Goregaon residence to tell her about the incident. He then slept there. Kushi later informed Pooja, Mihir’s sister, who subsequently arrived to pick him up. By 10.20 am, Kinjal (Mihir’s sister) and Rajesh had dropped off Mihir and Pooja near Borivli. When the police arrived at Kinjal’s residence at 10.37 am, Mihir had already fled. Pooja advised Mihir to return home and then go to the police station, as their father Rajesh had been detained by the police. Panicked, Mihir jumped out of a moving rickshaw near the Western Express Highway and fled. After that, he roamed around the city looking for a safe place to hide. On the same day, Rajesh and driver Bidawat reached Kalanagar Junction and hired a private towing vehicle to retrieve the damaged car. However, the Worli police intercepted them and took possession of the vehicle. Meanwhile, Pooja returned home and the family hatched a plan to flee. On July 8, some relatives drove them in an Audi car to a resort in Yeoor, Thane. The family later fled to the Mashallah Allah Resort in Shahapur on July 9, where they were detained by the Crime Branch. Despite this, the family claimed they did not know Mihir’s whereabouts. Hasan Shah, the owner of the resort, provided a statement to the police revealing that he received a call from an unknown number asking him to accommodate the Shah family. Hasan agreed and later inquired about Mihir, but the family claimed ignorance about his location. Hasan also received another call informing him that Rajesh had been released. On the same day, the police arrested Mihir from Vasai Naka. He had trimmed his hair and had shaved the beard to prevent the arrest.
04 October,2024 01:34 PM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheIn a shocking incident, a man approached a woman sitting in a temple, touched her feet, and sought her blessings. Claiming he needed her gold chain for worship, he asked her to hand it over. Trusting his intentions, the woman complied and gave him the chain. The man wrapped the gold chain in a paper packet and stood before the deity to pray for a few moments. Later, he handed the packet back to the woman and quietly left the temple. However, when the woman opened the packet, she was shocked to find a stone inside instead of her gold chain. By the time she realised what had happened, the man had already disappeared. Realising she had been deceived, the woman promptly lodged a complaint at the Vile Parle police station. The police have registered a case of cheating against the unknown individual and are currently investigating the matter.
04 October,2024 01:13 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanMIDC Police arrested two persons for petty thefts who stole phones, money and other valuables from the public in local trains and buses. The arrested accused have been identified as Arjun Gaikwad(40) and Husain Shaikh (36). Police sources told mid-day that on the night of September 24, the accused stole an iPhone 15 from the pocket of a young adult while he was boarding a bus near Majas depot following which a complaint was filed with MIDC police. Following orders from senior police officers, an investigation was launched, and the accused were identified using CCTV footage. On Wednesday, the police arrested Gaikwad from Bhandup and his accomplice, Shaikh, from Ghatkopar. Police said that Gaikwad has committed over three dozen cases of pickpocketing and that 10 cases against him have been lodged at Kurla GRP station. Meanwhile, he's been booked in four cases each by the Thane and Borivali GRP; and one case each at Vasai and Vashi GRP stations. He also has cases against him registered at city police stations including Samta Nagar, Kurar, Dahisar, Oshiwara, Rabodi and Shaikh was booked in a couple of previous cases at Vakola and Rabale stations, an officer from MIDC police station said. The accused's method comprised surrounding a person from all sides as when they board a train or bus. The gang pressed against the individual and encouraged them to move forward. However, the attempts would be futile due to the crowding and it would distract the person thereby letting the accused take advantage and steal their stuff and handing it to his accomplices who fled when the opportunity arrived. The duo has been booked and arrested under various sections of BNS and was produced before the court yesterday and the duo was remanded in police custody the officer added.
04 October,2024 12:51 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe Mumbai Crime Branch Unit 3 has arrested her 46-year-old man for alleged sexual abuse of his minor daughter. According to the crime branch officials, a man had approached the Tardeo Police claiming his 14-year-old daughter had gone missing and apprehended that the girl might have been kidnapped. The crime branch also launched a search for the girl after the report was filed on October 2. A crime branch official said that the girl was traced near Mahalaxmi Railway station on Thursday. The girl was taken to crime branch Unit 3 and the female officer who had accompanied the girl recorded her statement. “She revealed that she had been sexually exploited by her father for the past five years. Not wanting the sexual exploitation to continue, she left the house never wanting to return,” an officer said. Taking cognizance of the information, the crime branch arrested the father of the victim and booked him under various sections of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO) and BNS. The officials have said that when the team of the crime branch reached the girl’s house, he got scared. The police found that the girl’s mother was mentally unwell and she had no clue what was happening to her daughter. “The minor tried to explain the exploitation to her mother, but she couldn’t understand what the minor was saying. The girl was fed up with the exploitation and fled her house. She wanted to go along with her friend, but we traced her near the Mahalaxmi railway station and handed her over to Tardeo Police station,” an officer said. The Tardeo Police will counsel the girl with the help of the Nirbhaya team and she will be given in the custody of the NGO, or she will be kept at a children's rehab centre. Badlapur sexual assault: Students, parents struggle to cope with the aftermath Meanwhile, the Badlapur school has resumed operations, with students playing and guards chatting at the gate. However, beneath this surface, a tangible tension exists. Since the horrible events of August 12 and 13, when a school sweeper sexually abused two four-year-old girls, the town has been shocked. Students and parents have expressed concern about the school's delayed response and the absence of its principal and other functionaires. As the school attempts to resume its routines, a common sentiment reverberates through the halls: "It's not the same."
04 October,2024 11:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanADVERTISEMENT
