In a dramatic turn of events, the Anti‑Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Mumbai has arrested two police constables and a paan shopkeeper in what is being hailed as a landmark crackdown on bribery in the import cigarette trade. The operation, dubbed the “ACB bribe case Mumbai,” unfolded on Wednesday when the constables were caught red‑handed accepting a bribe of ₹35,000 from a businessman who sells imported cigarettes. While one constable has fled, the other two have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Background and Context India’s import cigarette market is a lucrative but heavily regulated sector. Importers must secure…
Author: Lukman Isiaq
Mumbai Police arrest three men in Andheri East after a string of nine motorcycle thefts that rattled the local community. The trio—Omkar Fasge (22), Kartik Mhaske (18) and Sagar Gaikwad (19)—were taken into custody on January 23 after authorities traced the stolen bikes to their possession. The latest incident, which occurred overnight between January 13 and 14 at Gundavli in Andheri East, marked the ninth motorcycle stolen in a series that has alarmed residents and commuters alike. Background and Context Motorcycle theft has surged in Mumbai over the past decade, with the Mumbai Police reporting a 27% increase in reported cases between 2024 and 2025.…
Three men have been taken into custody by the Andheri Police after a string of high‑profile motorcycle thefts that rattled the upscale suburb of Andheri East. The trio, identified as Omkar Fasge (22), Kartik Mhaske (18) and Sagar Gaikwad (19), were arrested on Thursday night following the theft of nine motorcycles from a private parking lot in Gundavli, a locality that has seen a surge in vehicle‑theft incidents in recent months. Background/Context Motorcycle theft in Mumbai has climbed steadily over the past year, with the Mumbai Police reporting a 12% rise in reported cases in 2025 alone. Andheri East, known for its bustling…
In a decisive turn of events, former civic standing committee chairperson Netra Shirke has emerged as the clear frontrunner in the Navi Mumbai mayor election 2026, a race that has been fiercely contested by the influential Naik family and their allies. With the mayoral post reserved for a woman after a 15‑year hiatus, Shirke’s victory could signal a shift in the political dynamics of Navi Mumbai’s municipal corporation. Background/Context Navi Mumbai’s municipal corporation (NMMC) has long been a battleground for local power brokers. The Naik family, led by Ganesh Naik, has dominated the city’s political landscape for decades, holding key…
Mahad election violence arrest has taken center stage in Maharashtra after the Bombay High Court slammed the police for failing to detain Vikas Gogawale, the son of cabinet minister Bharat Gogawale, who is accused of inciting violence during the Mahad Municipal Council elections on 2 December. The court’s scathing remarks prompted the state government to announce that Vikas will surrender on Friday, a move that underscores the escalating tensions between the judiciary, the police and the ruling party. Background/Context The Mahad incident erupted when supporters of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena clashed over the nomination of a candidate…
In a dramatic turn of events, the Maharashtra state government has ordered the arrest of Vikas Gogawale, son of Shiv Sena cabinet minister Bharat Gogawale, following a Bombay High Court ruling that criticised the police for failing to detain him in connection with the Mahad poll violence that erupted on 2 December. The court’s decision, which highlighted the “political” nature of the case, has forced the state to act, and Gogawale is expected to surrender on Friday. Background and Context The Mahad municipal council elections on 2 December were marred by violent clashes between supporters of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and…
In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra’s political landscape, Vikas Gogawale, the son of Shiv Sena MLA and cabinet minister Bharat Gogawale, has surrendered in the Mahad municipal council poll violence case following a stern reprimand from the Bombay High Court. The surrender, which came a day after the court’s scathing remarks, marks a pivotal moment in a case that has already seen cross-FIRs, anticipatory bail petitions, and intense media scrutiny. Background and Context The Mahad incident on 2 December 2025 erupted when supporters of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena clashed during the…
Encrypted app scam Mumbai has taken a chilling turn as a senior citizen from the western suburbs of Mumbai was duped out of ₹16.5 lakh by con artists posing as National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials. The fraudsters lured the 68‑year‑old retired BMC contractor into downloading the encrypted messaging app Signal, promising an “online inquiry into the Delhi blasts case.” Within days, the victim was coerced into transferring a large sum of money, only to find the scammers had blocked him on the app and vanished. Background/Context Encrypted messaging platforms such as Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp have become popular tools for secure…
In the latest Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the decision by the Indian National Congress to contest independently has cost the Thackeray alliance a staggering 26 seats, according to post‑election data. The split in opposition votes, dubbed the Congress BMC polls vote split, handed a decisive advantage to the BJP‑Shiv Sena coalition, which captured 20 seats, while the Mahayuti—led by Uddhav Thackeray—secured only 118 seats, just four over the majority threshold. Background/Context The BMC elections, held on 23 January 2026, were a litmus test for the political fortunes of Mumbai’s key players. The Mahayuti, a coalition of the Uddhav Thackeray‑led…
In a decisive move that has sent shockwaves through Mumbai’s underworld and the film fraternity, the City Crime Branch has taken custody of notorious gangster Raviprakash alias Ravi Pujari in the 2018 extortion case involving choreographer and film director Remo D’Souza. The 56‑year‑old, who has 49 offences registered across Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Karnataka, was escorted by a gun‑wielding special squad and produced before the Esplanade Magistrate Court on Thursday, where he was remanded to police custody until January 26. Background and Context The Ravi Pujari extortion case is not an isolated incident but part of a broader crackdown on organised crime in Maharashtra.…