The accused, Shabana Tehji Hussain, was involved in several chain-snatching cases with four other thieves, and helped sell the booty. The woman has been remanded to police custody
For the first time, a woman has been booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. The accused, Shabana Tehji Hussain, was involved in several chain-snatching cases with four other thieves, and helped sell the booty.
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Representational picture
On March 2, officials from Sewri’s RAK police station nabbed two of Shabana’s accomplices, Salman Papli Hussain alias Jaki (26) and Kasim Haidar Sayyad (21) after they snatched a victim’s chain. Taufiq Mohsin Sayyad and Muslim Rajahussain Sayyad, alias Mussa, are on the run.
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Assistant Commissioner of Police Vijay Bagve, Matunga Division, said, “Two patrolling officers witnessed the robbery, chased Salman and Kasim and arrested them. After the arrest, the police interrogated them and remanded them to judicial custody. However, the cops failed to recover any gold chains they had robbed in the past.
Bagve added, “On April 30, we again took custody of the two accused, and learnt that a woman was involved in the robberies, too, and helped sell the valuables.”
On Monday, the police arrested Shabana and booked her under the stringent MCOCA and sections 392 (punishment for robbery) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance) of the IPC.
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“Shabana is the sister-in-law of the main accused, Salman. It was Salman who got her involved in the robberies in the first place and asked her to sell the valuables. We are now trying to investigate whether she participated in the robberies, too,” said Bagve.
The gang has over 20 cases registered against them with RAK, MRA and the Thane-based Manpada police stations. Cops have recovered four chains from the three accused yet. Salman and Kasim have been sent to judicial custody, while Shabana has been remanded to police custody.