A 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 correspondentNavi Mumbai, once known as a hub for Africans of different nationalities allegedly running drug cartels from areas such as Kharghar and Ulwe, has seen a dramatic change over the past two years. A massive crackdown by the Navi Mumbai police, under Commissioner Milind Bharambe, has brought their presence down to almost zero. With a zero-tolerance approach to drugs, the police, through the combined efforts of the Crime Branch, local police, and the anti-narcotics cell have carried out several major raids, instilling fear among those involved in drug trafficking. “At the beginning of 2023, a massive crackdown was launched against African nationals, mainly from Nigeria, who were residing in several localities, including Kharghar, Taloja and Ulwe, following numerous complaints from locals about drug-related issues,” a Crime Branch officer said. The Navi Mumbai police then identified specific locations within these localities and discovered that a large Nigerian drug network was operating under the guise of “Nigerian kitchens” in Kharghar. These kitchens were being used as fronts for drug trafficking, where narcotics were distributed to facilitators and peddlers. “We conducted multiple large-scale raids involving over 100 officials from the Crime Branch and local police. These operations specifically targeted the so-called African kitchens. During the raids, drugs were seized and several Nigerian nationals, along with their local operators, were apprehended,” said Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe while speaking to mid-day. “We didn’t stop at just raids and arrests—we identified the entire network. Those with multiple cases were blacklisted using their biometrics with the help of the agencies concerned to ensure they couldn’t return to India. The strict actions and zero-tolerance approach to drugs adopted by the force are now yielding positive results,” Bharambe added. “Many African nationals with similar appearances use different passports and simply change the photographs, making it difficult for agencies to determine whether it’s the same person or someone else. In several cases, individuals who were deported re-entered India using altered passports with edited photos created using sophisticated apps. Biometrics help us confirm identities, even when they attempt to change their appearance or use different documents,” said Ajaykumar Landge, ACP, Crime Branch. According to official data from the Navi Mumbai Police, between 2023 and March 2025, around 1336 African nationals—mainly from Nigeria—were blacklisted using biometric identification, and subsequently deported. The data also reveals that during the same period, 2071 Nigerian nationals were arrested in connection with 1389 registered cases. As part of the ongoing crackdown, the Navi Mumbai Police seized approximately 621 kg of drugs, with an estimated value of R60 crore. The narcotics seized in the case have been destroyed.
29 April,2025 08:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanThe Amboli police have arrested the house help of model and actress Nehaa Malik in a theft case on Monday based on a complaint filed by the actress’s mother, who accused her of stealing jewellery worth Rs 34.49 lakh. The accused was arrested from JB Nagar in Andheri and police have recovered the stolen jewellery. The actress and her mother, Manju Malik, 65, reside at Adani Heights complex, Four Bungalows, Andheri West. The accused, identified as Shehnaz Shaikh, 37, had been working at the actress’s home since February. A police officer stated, “Complainant Manju used to keep her jewellery in a cloth pouch stored in an unlocked wooden drawer in the bedroom. On several occasions, she accessed the drawer in Shehnaz's presence. Even in the owner's absence, house help Shehnaz continued her cleaning routine. On April 24, Manju placed her jewellery in the drawer. The next morning (April 25), Shehnaz arrived as usual and offered to thoroughly clean the bedroom and mirrors, claiming she needed money to pay her rent. Manju gave her an advance of Rs 9000.” After instructing Shehnaz on the chores, Manju left for the Gurudwara and returned around 9 am. However, the next day (April 26), Shehnaz did not appear for work. Concerned, Manju repeatedly tried calling her, only to find her phone switched off. Sensing something suspicious, she checked the drawer and found the jewellery missing. She immediately informed her daughter about the incident. Convinced that Shehnaz had stolen the jewellery, the family approached the police and filed an FIR. A police officer said, “We have registered an FIR under Section 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the IPC and have initiated further investigation.”
29 April,2025 07:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaThe Andheri Police in Mumbai have registered a first information report (FIR) against the driver of a car that collided with five other vehicles on the opposite side of the road on the Western Express Highway (WEH) on Monday. According to the police, the collision took place after 41-year-old Mangesh Sanap lost control of it while trying to overtake other vehicles. The car driven by the Malad resident jumped the divider, resulting in the collision with other vehicles. Five people, including Sanap, have sustained injuries in the incident that occurred on Andheri flyover around 7 am. The incident led to heavy traffic on WEH during the rush hour. "The car driver was speeding and attempted to overtake when he lost control, hit the divider, and veered into the opposite lane. The car collided with five other vehicles, damaging them,” Andheri Police Station Sub-inspector Bapurao Gawade told mid-day.com. "Three people have suffered minor injuries and have been discharged from the hospital. We have registered an FIR against the car driver and initiated an investigation into the matter," Gawade said. Sanap is undergoing treatment in Trauma Care Hospital as he has suffered injuries on head and hand, the police said. Another injured person, identified as Prashant Wayangarkar, 30, has also received minor injuries but is not discharged yet. He is being treated at Cooper Hospital.
28 April,2025 10:36 PM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaMumbai Police have seized mephedrone worth Rs 8.15 crore from a cement godown in the city and arrested two persons in connection with the matter, an official said on Monday, reported the PTI. According to the police it arrested the accused who were identified as Sadik Salim Sheikh (28), a resident of Bandra, and Mira Road resident Siraj Panjwani (57) under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, as per the PTI. Sheikh was caught in the Kajupada locality in Sakinaka last week, and mephedrone worth Rs 10 lakh was recovered from him, an official said. During interrogation, Sheikh said that he had procured the contraband from Panjwani, who was subsequently nabbed from Mira Road, the official said. He said the accused informed the police that the drugs were made by one Kaluram Chowdhary at his cement godown, following which they raided the premises and recovered 4.5 kg of the contraband, according to the PTI. Chowdhary, however, managed to flee, and a hunt is on for him, the official said, adding that the accused may have links to a drug mafia and more arrests are likely in the case, the news agency reported. MBVV Police seize drugs worth over Rs 22 crore in Thane; three held In an another major operation in Maharashtra, the Mira Bhayander Vasai Virar (MBVV) police had earlier this month seized nearly drugs worth over Rs 22 crore, in Maharashtra's Thane district and arrested three persons, including two foreign nationals, an official had earlier said, reported the PTI. Acting on a tip, the MBVV on April 15 arrested a woman, identified as Shabina Shaikh (42), and recovered 11.8 kg of cocaine, valued at Rs 17.74 crore, from her, said Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Madan Ballal, as per the PTI. "The first arrest led us deeper into the supply chain," ACP Ballal said. Shaikh, in her interrogations, told the police that the drugs were supplied to her by a Nigerian national, identified as Andy Ubabudike Onyinse (45), living in Mira Road East. Police subsequently arrested him, recovering 2.608 kg of cocaine, valued at Rs 3.9 crore, according to the PTI. "Further questioning of the Nigerian national led us to another key player in the network. We arrested a 32-year-old woman from Cameroon, Christabel Enjei, residing in Vasai East, and recovered 433.2 grams of cocaine worth Rs 64.98 lakh from her possession," the official had earlier this month said. Senior inspector Pramod Badakh of Crime Branch Unit-1, Kashimira, said that they have also recovered Rs 2.84 lakh in foreign currency and Indian rupees. "We are now investigating the larger network - where the contraband originated from and who the intended buyers were. More arrests are likely as the probe progresses," ACP Ballal added, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
28 April,2025 05:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA sessions court in Maharashtra’s Thane district has acquitted three members of a family who had been accused of abetting the suicide of a man allegedly over a property dispute, according to PTI. Additional Sessions Judge Amit M Shete pronounced the verdict on 23 April, acquitting Jatin Surendra Rathod (44), Madhumatiben Surendra Rathod (64), and Mukund Surendra Rathod (41) of charges under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to abetment of suicide. A copy of the court's order was made available on Monday, PTI reports. The case stemmed from the suicide of Arvindbhai Bhanjibhai Panchal, who hanged himself at his residence in Mira Road on 6 March 2016. Following his death, Panchal’s wife filed a complaint alleging that her husband had faced mental harassment from the accused individuals, primarily due to being denied his share of the family properties. However, during the course of the trial, the prosecution's case weakened significantly. The court observed that two of the five original accused had passed away during the proceedings, leading to the abatement of charges against them. Furthermore, the prosecution struggled to maintain its case after the complainant, the deceased’s elder son, and a sister-in-law failed to support the allegations during their examination and cross-examination. In fact, the son of the deceased conceded in court that the dispute over property was not the reason behind his father's drastic action. Judge Shete, in his detailed ruling, stated that the prosecution had failed to meet the burden of proof required to establish the offence of abetment. Without concrete or incriminating evidence linking the accused to the suicide, the court found no basis to convict them. The judgment emphasised that the benefit of doubt must necessarily go to the accused in a criminal trial when the prosecution is unable to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly, Jatin, Madhumatiben, and Mukund Rathod were acquitted of all charges relating to abetment of suicide. 18-year-old boy drowns in Thane lake An 18-year-old boy drowned while swimming with his friends in a lake in Maharashtra's Thane city, an official said on Monday. The teenager's body was recovered from the Rayladevi Lake in the Wagle Estate area after hours of search and rescue efforts, he said. Sahil Ghorpade, a resident of Sathenagar, had gone swimming with his friends on Sunday evening, said Yasin Tadvi, chief of the civic disaster management cell.He drowned due to the unpredictable depth and water levels, he said. The official said teams from the disaster management cell, police personnel, fire department staff with an emergency tender and rescue vehicle, and an ambulance rushed to the scene and the body was fished out in the wee hours of Monday. (With inputs from PTI)
28 April,2025 02:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAn official on Sunday said that Mumbai Police busted a gang of cyber fraudsters by arresting five persons who allegedly cheated people in various states of Rs 30 crore, reported news agency PTI. Police suspect the involvement of a big network of Hawala operators and international links. The investigation stemmed from a cheating complaint lodged with police in Vakola in January. The complainant claimed he was tricked to transfer Rs 3.41 lakh, reported PTI. A police official said they investigated the money trail, which showed the gang cheated people under the guise of hefty returns on investment in share markets, doubling of money, and threatening to block credit and debit cards. The accused are identified as Rajkaransingh Prakashsingh Tanwar (19) and Karan Singh Sengar (19) from Jaipur, and Shakib Ansari (27), Meraj Ansari (20), and Fuzail Ansari (21) who are residents of Bhiwandi in Thane district, reported PTI. Police said more arrests are likely. Navi Mumbai couple booked for duping man of Rs 12 lakh with promise of govt job A case has been registered against a couple from Navi Mumbai for allegedly cheating a man of Rs 12 lakh on the pretext of securing a government job for his daughter, police said on Sunday, reported PTI. Based on a complaint, the police on Saturday registered a case under sections 316(2) (criminal breach of trust) and 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, an official said. He said the accused, Neelkant Subash Gosavi (35) and his wife, Priya, allegedly befriended the complainant and gradually gained his trust between October 2022 and April 25, 2025, reported PTI. The official said the couple reportedly assured the man they could use their "influence" to secure a position for his daughter in the Income Tax department and took Rs 12 lakh from him over multiple transactions, reported PTI. However, despite repeated assurances, no job materialised, and the couple failed to return the money, he said, adding that a probe is underway to ascertain if the couple had similarly cheated others. (With inputs from PTI)
28 April,2025 10:39 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
