The Bombay High Court on Wednesday slammed the crime branch's Special Investigation Team for not registering an FIR against five policemen for the alleged encounter killing of Badlapur sexual assault case accused Akshay Shinde, noting it was a "very sorry state of affairs". After the HC sternly observed that it would be constrained to initiate contempt proceedings, public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar assured the court that an FIR would be registered by the SIT by Saturday (May 3). A bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale accepted Venegaonkar's assurance. On April 7, the HC ordered the crime branch's joint commissioner Lakhami Gautam to form a special investigation team to probe the death of Shinde and register an FIR against the five policemen indicted in a magistrate's inquiry report for Shinde's death. Last week, the high court strongly criticised the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which was initially probing the case, for not handing over the case papers to the SIT. Pursuant to this, the CID on April 25 handed over all the papers to the SIT. On Wednesday, when HC questioned if FIR was registered, public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar replied in the negative. Irked by the reply, the bench said that when there was a cognizable offence made out, the police ought to have applied their mind and registered the FIR. "There is a responsibility cast on the police. Do not let public faith in the system down. There is a dead body. It is an unnatural death. What more revelation do you want to lodge FIR?" HC questioned. The bench said in the absence of non-compliance of its order it would be constrained to initiate contempt proceedings. "This is pure scuttling of directives of this court. We are not satisfied. This is a very sorry state of affairs. We are now constrained to issue contempt," the bench remarked and asked the SIT to show some "dedication" and take the matter to its logical conclusion. Shinde (24), accused of sexually assaulting two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur in Thane district, was shot dead inside a police van on September 23, 2024, while being taken to Kalyan from Taloja prison for probe in another case. The escorting police team claimed they shot him in self-defence after he snatched the gun of one of the officials and opened fire. His parents, though, alleged he was killed in a fake encounter, and filed a petition in the high court seeking an independent probe. An inquiry report by a magistrate indicted the five policemen, stating there was substance in the claim that it was a fake encounter. 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
30 April,2025 06:22 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIA two-year-long chase for a serial fraudster who vanished after duping people of crores of rupees ended in Delhi, thanks to Mumbai police’s sharp phone surveillance. The accused, who had been constantly changing numbers to stay off the grid, was finally traced to a flat in Jangpura, in Delhi, where he was hiding with a struggling South Indian actress he was allegedly trying to launch into films using the stolen money. The Borivli police have arrested an absconding fraud accused who had been on the run for two years after allegedly duping two individuals of crores by promising high returns on investments in Borivli and Goregaon. In June 2023, the police discovered that the accused, Sunil Parasmal Lodha, 38, had mysteriously vanished from his Malad residence. A missing person’s report was subsequently filed by Lodha’s wife at the Dindoshi police station. A missing person’s report was filed by Lodha’s wife at the Dindoshi police station in 2023. Representation pic/istock According to officials, Lodha had been hiding in Delhi, living with a struggling model. Sources revealed that he spent a large chunk of the defrauded money on the model in hopes of helping her land a break in South Indian films. To evade arrest, Lodha frequently changed his mobile number—sometimes monthly—making it difficult for investigators to track him. The only consistent lead was his first number, which had long been deactivated. Using SDR (Subscriber Detail Records) and CDR (Call Detail Records), the police identified a number with frequent contact with Lodha in the past. Further analysis revealed several new Delhi-based numbers repeatedly calling this one, raising suspicion. A Borivli police team then began surveillance in Delhi, focusing on the suspected number linked to the model. After several days of groundwork, the team zeroed in on a location in the Jangpura area, where Lodha was finally traced and arrested on Monday. Doctor defrauded of Rs 4 crore Police sources said Lodha befriended a Borivli-based Ayurveda doctor in 2019 after visiting his clinic for treatment of physical weakness. Claiming to be a successful plywood businessman, Lodha promised lucrative returns if the doctor invested in his business. Trusting his claims, the doctor initially invested R50 lakh and received Rs 38 lakh as profit within a few months—boosting his confidence. Between 2020 and 2024, the doctor ended up investing approximately Rs 7 crore. While Lodha returned Rs 3 crore over time, he eventually stopped payments and blocked the doctor’s number. The doctor then filed a complaint with Borivli police on January 24, 2024. A case was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and an investigation was launched. Wood trader lost Rs 88 lakh In a second case registered at Bangur Nagar police station on July 7, 2024, the complainant—a 52-year-old wood businessman who owns a shop at Chincholi Phatak in Malad West—alleged that Lodha cheated him as well. Already familiar with Lodha, who operated a plywood business in Malad East, the complainant was persuaded to supply teakwood worth R1.5 crore on credit. He eventually delivered R80 lakh worth of stock. Lodha gave two post-dated cheques—R40 lakh and Rs46 lakh—issued in the names of his family members. According to officials, Lodha had been hiding in Delhi, living with a struggling model. Representation pic/Istock The cheques bounced, and further investigation revealed that Lodha had similarly defrauded several other businessmen. Based on the victim’s written complaint, Bangur Nagar police registered a case under relevant IPC sections and began probing the matter. Despite his two-year run, Lodha’s trail finally ran cold in Delhi, where police ended the chase. Cops Speak “Under the guidance of DCP Anand Bhoite, Senior Police Inspector Maloji Shinde, Police Inspector Milind Nagpure, and the Borivli police cyber team—including PSI Kalyan Patil, Vishal Jhagde, Police Constable Rabbil Shaikh, and Head Constable Bahiram—made a commendable effort and apprehended Lodha from the Jangpura area of Delhi. He was brought to Mumbai and produced before the Borivali Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Tuesday, where he was remanded to police custody,” said an officer from the Borivli police station. Police will investigate how the accused spent the money duped from victims and whether the model he was living with is also involved in the fraud. Given the accused’s modus operandi, officials suspect there may be several more victims. The investigation is ongoing, he added.
30 April,2025 10:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanIn a swift and commendable move, the Wadala TT Police arrested two men and filed a chargesheet within 12 hours of registering an assault case. The incident occurred on the evening of April 27 at around 7:30 PM in Wadala (East), where a local woman and her husband were allegedly assaulted following a heated altercation. The FIR was registered early the next morning at 5:45 AM under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, including Section 74 (assault on a woman), Section 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 352 (intentional insult), and Section 3 (common intention). The accused have been identified as Zaheer Zubair Siddiqui (24) and Takdeer Karamat Ali Siddiqui (40), both residents of Sangamnagar in Wadala East. Following a preliminary investigation, both were taken into custody. Police officials confirmed that the complainant’s detailed statement was recorded and a panchnama was conducted at the scene. The couple was taken to Sion Hospital for medical examination, and statements from eyewitnesses were also documented and attached to the chargesheet. In a rare example of prompt legal action, the police submitted the chargesheet to the Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Bhoiwada on the same day. Typically, investigating officers are required to file a chargesheet within 60 to 90 days of an arrest, depending on the severity of the offence. For crimes punishable with less than 10 years of imprisonment, the deadline is 60 days, while more serious offences allow up to 90 days. If the investigation is not concluded within this period, the police must seek an extension from the magistrate. Failing that, the accused becomes eligible for default bail under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which recently replaced the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
30 April,2025 10:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerThe Dahanu police have arrested a 35-year-old woman for allegedly killing her newborn daughter a week after delivery. Police said the woman was upset that her fourth child was again a girl, as she had been hoping for a boy. Police have identified the accused woman as Poonam Saha, a resident of West Bengal. Police said the incident took place on April 26. The accused had been staying with her mother in Dahanu for the past three months during her pregnancy. “Poonam already has three daughters, and she was hoping for a son. Last week, she delivered a baby girl at the Dahanu sub-district hospital. She was very upset that the child was again a girl. On April 26, at midnight, she placed her hand over the baby’s nose and mouth, suffocating her. The infant died from a lack of oxygen,” said a police officer. The officer further added, “In the morning, the family rushed the baby to the hospital, where the doctor declared her dead and informed the police. We then sent the infant’s body for post-mortem.” The report confirmed that the infant died due to suffocation caused by lack of oxygen, following which they arrested the accused mother. During interrogation, Saha admitted that she took this step due to depression. Shah said she wanted a baby boy and was upset that the newborn was again a girl and therefore killed her, said the officer. Police said they have registered a case against Saha and have begun their investigation.
30 April,2025 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaAn undertrial prisoner allegedly assaulted a 'jail naik' or guard at the Kalyan jail in Thane district of Maharashtra following which a criminal case was registered against him, the police said on Tuesday, reported the PTI. The accused was identified as Suraj Shankar Singh alias Virendra Shankar Mishra (29), resident of Sonale in Bhiwandi. "We have registered a case against Singh under sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty) and 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from duty) of the BNS," said an official of Khadakpada police station, as per the PTI. The incident occurred on Monday around 12 noon when Singh and four other undertrials were brought to the Kalyan court for a hearing. "While inside the courtroom, the accused got into a heated argument with the magistrate over the proceedings in his case. The magistrate ordered him out of the courtroom," the official said, the news agency reported. Later, when the jail naik was taking Singh and others back to their prison cells, the accused allegedly slapped the naik, scratched him on his ears and neck, and punched him in the chest and abdomen, the official added. "We are looking into whether this was a premeditated act," he said, as per the PTI. Jammu-Kashmir student in Nagpur claims assault; association seeks CM Devendra Fadnavis' intervention A student from Jammu and Kashmir studying at a pharmacy college in Nagpur was allegedly thrashed by a group of locals, police said on Tuesday, adding that the motive behind the incident is not clear. The incident took place on the evening of April 27 in the Kamptee area of Nagpur, reported news agency PTI. However, no complaint has been received so far from the victim, said a senior police officer. Explaining the sequence of events, the officer said that two first-year Bachelor of Pharmacy students – hailing from the Doda town and Jammu – were on their way to their hostel around 6.15 pm, when one of them went to answer nature's call and the other student stood on the roadside waiting for him. Around two-three residents reached the spot and started questioning the student who was standing on the roadside and sought to know from where he hailed from. Speaking to PTI, the student said that he told the locals that they hailed from Jammu and Kashmir, but the "anti-social elements" started beating them. Meanwhile, the other student returned and informed the residents that both were studying in a local college. After this, the locals allowed them to go, the officer informed. The victim ruled out a hate motive behind the attack and said it was their first year in Nagpur and they did not know the area, where the incident took place, reported PTI. Later, one of the pupils informed about the incident to Jammu and Kashmir Students Association office-bearer Nasir Khuehami, who posted about it on his X account and urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene in the matter. (with PTI inputs)
29 April,2025 09:21 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentIn a major breakthrough, the North Division Cyber Police Station of Mumbai Police has busted a share trading cyber fraud case and arrested three people for allegedly defrauding people of over Rs 18 crore, the police said on Tuesday. The gang lured people into bogus share trading investments with promises of high returns, an official said. According to the police, the probe into the matter was launched after a complaint was filed on 22 April 2025, by a 49-year-old Goregaon resident who lost Rs 2.77 crore to the scam. The complainant was added to a WhatsApp group named “K05-IIFL Securities Limited” by unknown fraudsters, who posed as investment advisers. Using fabricated trading tips and screenshots of fake profits, they convinced him to download a fake trading app named “IIFL Markets” through a suspicious link, the official said. The victim was persuaded to invest in what was claimed to be block trades, QIP, and IPOs, and transferred large sums into multiple bank accounts. When he attempted to withdraw his so-called returns, he was further extorted under the guise of taxes and credit checks, he said. The police said that a key breakthrough came when investigators traced Rs. 71.22 lakh of the swindled amount to a bank account held under the name of one Rudra Enterprises. Technical tracking and investigations led to the arrest of the suspects from Bandra, Mumbai. They were identified as Rishak Mohan Shirodkar (38), Krishna Arun Gawli (24), and Sohail Nazir Ahmader Shaikh alias Jack (30), the police official said. He added that the police seized mobile phones, cheque books, and a debit card from the accused, which they allegedly used to operate the racket. The prime accused, Shirodkar, had allegedly opened the fraudulent bank account under his name and operated it to receive scam money. His co-accused, meanwhile, were involved in transferring and laundering the defrauded funds. Investigations revealed that the bank accounts used were linked to 28 fraud complaints across India, with total fraudulent gains estimated at Rs. 18 crore. The police are urging citizens to remain vigilant against online investment scams and to report suspicious activity through the Cyber Helpline 1930, or online at cybercrime.gov.in.
29 April,2025 08:18 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerA 30-year-old woman has been arrested by the Palghar Police in Maharashtra for allegedly murdering her newborn girl child, the police said on Tuesday, reported the PTI. The woman was identified as Poonam Shah, a resident of West Bengal, an official said, adding that she had come to her parents' house at Lonipada for delivery. She was apparently depressed after giving birth to a girl child as she already has three daughters, said inspector Dadasaheb Gutookhade of Dahanu police station, as per the PTI. On Saturday night, Poonam allegedly strangled her infant daughter at the government hospital. Police were alerted after the infant was found dead and the staff suspected that it was not a natural death, the official said, according to the PTI. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against the accused under section 103 (1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), he said. Seven-month-old boy dies after falling from 21st-floor balcony in Maharashtra's Virar Meanwhile, a seven-month-old boy fell to his death from the 21st-floor balcony of a residential building in Virar West last week. The police said that the child was on his mother’s shoulder when she slipped while closing a window. The infant and his parents lived at a residential complex in Virar West in Palghar district. The Bolinj police later registered an accidental death report (ADR) in the matter. According to the police officials, the incident took place at around 3.10 pm when the boy was in the bedroom with his mother. She had turned on the air conditioner and was in the process of shutting the window when she lost her footing. Senior Inspector Prakash Kawle of Bolinj police station said, “The balcony’s safety glass is quite low—around 2.5 to three feet in height. The mother, who is about five feet tall, was carrying the baby on her shoulder. The floor was wet, and she lost her balance, causing the child to slip from her grasp and fall. He lost his life immediately.” “We reviewed the building’s CCTV footage and found no suspicious activity. We also questioned the mother and found nothing unusual. The boy was the couple’s only child, and they were extremely happy with him,” Inspector Kawle added. (with PTI inputs)
29 April,2025 06:35 PM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentAn official on Monday said that the Navi Mumbai police have directed educational institutions to conduct a third-party audit of their premises to ensure the safety and security of students, reported news agency PTI. Officials of Zone-I of the Navi Mumbai police held a crucial meeting with heads of educational institutions within their jurisdiction on Monday, providing detailed guidelines for the mandated audit. Talking to reporters, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Zone-I Pankaj Dahane said principals, headmasters, and management personnel representing 149 educational institutions attended the crucial meeting. The sole agenda of the session was to address and fortify the safety and security framework for students of the Navi Mumbai schools, he said, reported PTI. During the meeting, a thorough review was conducted of the existing safety and security protocols implemented by the educational institutions, with a particular focus on measures aimed at preventing sexual abuse of children, the official said, reported PTI. The school managements were strongly instructed to ensure seamless coordination between their committees and the local police. Furthermore, they were directed to strictly adhere to the safety guidelines issued by the state government. A key directive issued during the meeting was for the management of Navi Mumbai schools to submit a compliance report of the mandated third-party safety audits to their local police stations. The official said the educational institutions have been given a strict one-month deadline to complete the third-party audit and submit the compliance report to the local police. "If they encounter any challenges in conducting this audit through a third party, the police are readily available to provide all necessary assistance and guidance. This can be facilitated in close coordination with the local school management committee, teachers, and representatives of both teaching and non-teaching staff," he said, reported PTI. Parents protest at Navi Mumbai school over alleged abuse of 4-year-old student Meanwhile, hundreds of parents staged a protest outside a prominent Navi Mumbai school on Monday morning, demanding action against the school administration following the alleged sexual abuse of a four-year-old student by a school van driver. The police have arrested the driver in connection with the incident, which occurred on April 22. A case has been registered against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Holding placards and shouting slogans, parents gathered outside the Navi Mumbai school premises, demanding the dismissal of the principal. Many protesters wore black ribbons as a mark of protest. (With inputs from PTI)
29 April,2025 01:20 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday said that a case has been registered against a Thane talathi for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a man to process the transfer of land records in Maharashtra's Thane district, reported news agency PTI. Siddhi Santosh Patkar, a Thane talathi under the Thane Tehsildar's jurisdiction, allegedly demanded a bribe to process the transfer of land records in the name of a housing society, Deputy Superintendent of Police, ACB Thane Unit, Madhavi Rajekumbhar told PTI. She said the complainant, who regularly carried out work related to housing societies, had submitted an application at the tehsil office for the transfer of a land parcel to a society's name. "Despite the submission of necessary documents, the work was kept pending, and the accused official demanded a bribe to clear the application," the official told PTI. A case was registered against the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act on Monday, she said, adding that although the bribe was demanded, the accused had not accepted any money. No arrest has been made so far in connection with the case. ACB nabs Class-3 officer in PWD department accepting Rs 2.20 lakh bribe in Thane district In another case, Maharashtra's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday caught a section engineer attached to the PWD department of Panchayat Samiti in Bhiwandi town of Thane district while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2.20 lakh, officials said, reported PTI. The engineer, Pramod Jumale, a Class-3 officer, was held after a 30-year-old contractor approached the ACB, Thane unit, with a complaint that he was demanding a bribe for preparing a bill for a sewer project, said the anti-graft agency, reported PTI. Deputy Superintendent of Police (ACB Thane), Dharmaraj Sonke, said, "The complainant had completed the construction of a closed sewer under the gram panchayat and had also finished three other works whose bills were already paid. However, for preparing the bill for the closed sewer project, the section engineer demanded a bribe," reported PTI. According to the ACB, Jumale initially demanded Rs 2.40 lakh from the complainant. After negotiations during the verification process conducted on April 21, the amount was brought down to Rs 2.20 lakh. "Based on the complaint we received, a verification exercise was carried out. It was confirmed that Jumale had indeed demanded a bribe. Following this, a trap was set, and during the operation conducted on April 28, he was caught accepting Rs 2.20 lakh from the complainant," Sonke added, reported PTI. "An FIR was registered against the accused public servant under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act with the local police and further probe was underway," said the deputy SP. (With inputs from PTI)
29 April,2025 12:56 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA 44-year-old man has been arrested with counterfeit currency with a face value of Rs 54,000 in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said. The accused, Sahid Akthar Abdul Hanif Ansari, a resident of Malegaon in Nashik district, was apprehended during a routine patrol near Gaibi Nagar in Bhiwandi town on Monday, an official stated, reported PTI. The police team seized counterfeit notes with a face value of Rs 54,000 from the accused, who revealed that he had procured the notes from another Malegaon resident, according to the official, news agency PTI reported. A case has been registered under section 180 (possession of forged or counterfeit coin, government stamp, currency notes, or bank notes) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and a hunt has been launched for Ansari's accomplice. Mumbai: Businessman duped of Rs 12.2 lakh over forged admission promise in Thane A case has been registered against three individuals accused of defrauding a businessman of Rs 12.2 lakh by forging documents and falsely assuring admission for his son at a junior college in Maharashtra’s Thane district, the police confirmed on Tuesday. According to PTI, the complainant, a businessman based in Kalyan, reported that his son had unfortunately failed the Class 10 board examinations. Seizing upon his desperation, the accused allegedly approached him with promises of securing his son’s admission into a local junior college despite the academic setback. The trio reportedly fabricated a Secondary School Certificate (SSC) passing certificate to convince the businessman of the authenticity of their claim, an official revealed. As per PTI, the fraudsters managed to gain the complainant's trust through this forged document. Subsequently, the accused informed the businessman that one of their so-called associates had been apprehended by the police while in possession of the counterfeit certificate. Under the pretext of shielding his son from potential legal repercussions, they pressured the businessman into paying Rs 12.2 lakh, PTI reports. The entire fraudulent activity is said to have taken place between September and December 2024. Upon later realising that he had been deceived, the complainant approached the police and lodged an official complaint. The police have since registered a case against the three individuals under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), specifically section 318(4) for cheating and section 336(2) for forgery. Investigations into the matter are currently ongoing. (With PTI inputs)
29 April,2025 12:32 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA case has been registered against three individuals accused of defrauding a businessman of Rs 12.2 lakh by forging documents and falsely assuring admission for his son at a junior college in Maharashtra’s Thane district, the police confirmed on Tuesday. According to PTI, the complainant, a businessman based in Kalyan, reported that his son had unfortunately failed the Class 10 board examinations. Seizing upon his desperation, the accused allegedly approached him with promises of securing his son’s admission into a local junior college despite the academic setback. The trio reportedly fabricated a Secondary School Certificate (SSC) passing certificate to convince the businessman of the authenticity of their claim, an official revealed. As per PTI, the fraudsters managed to gain the complainant's trust through this forged document. Subsequently, the accused informed the businessman that one of their so-called associates had been apprehended by the police while in possession of the counterfeit certificate. Under the pretext of shielding his son from potential legal repercussions, they pressured the businessman into paying Rs 12.2 lakh, PTI reports. The entire fraudulent activity is said to have taken place between September and December 2024. Upon later realising that he had been deceived, the complainant approached the police and lodged an official complaint. The police have since registered a case against the three individuals under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), specifically section 318(4) for cheating and section 336(2) for forgery. Investigations into the matter are currently ongoing. Navi Mumbai man booked for raping woman he met on dating app The Navi Mumbai Police in Maharashtra have registered a case against a man for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman he met on a dating application, an official said on Monday, the PTI reported. The police said that it has filed an FIR against the 26-year-old suspect but was yet to make arrest in the case. The official said that based on a complaint, the police have registered a first information report under section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code for the alleged assault that took place in September 2020. The complainant claimed that the accused, a resident of Seawoods in Navi Mumbai, became acquainted with her on a dating app, he said, adding that the woman has alleged that the accused sexually assaulted her at a building in Kharghar. "No arrests have been made in the case. We are gathering evidence and ascertaining facts," he said. Further investigations were going on. (With inputs from PTI)
29 April,2025 11:38 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
