Crime
₹400-Crore Money-Heist Case Transferred To CID After Review Flags Concerns Over SIT Probe
Mumbai: In a significant development, the alleged Rs 400-crore cash-heist and linked kidnapping case has been officially transferred to the Maharashtra State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on February 23, with the agency set to conduct a fresh investigation into the matter, senior officials confirmed. Administrative formalities for reopening the probe have been completed and the CID is expected to begin its investigation shortly. The move potentially overturns earlier findings that had termed the case fabricated.
The case was earlier investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nashik Rural Police, which, after roughly 25 days of investigation, concluded that the alleged robbery, along with the linked kidnapping claim, was “fictitious”. On February 12, the SIT filed a closure report before the Igatpuri Judicial Magistrate First Class Court, citing Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), according to court records, stating that the central premise of the alleged crime appeared fabricated and recommending closure of the case.
Sources at the state police headquarters said that an internal review at the senior command level examined aspects of the earlier probe conducted by the SIT and flagged what officials described as procedural concerns. According to senior officers familiar with the review, the findings indicated that the SIT proceeded with the closure proposal despite adverse remarks recorded by the Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) regarding the proposed invocation of Section 189 of the BNSS.
Sources added that the review raised red flags over the reported role of certain senior police officers in unofficial investigation-related activities linked to the case, questioned the unusually swift completion of the SIT probe within about 25 days, and scrutinised the grounds on which the arrested accused were allowed to walk free, citing absence of evidence.
Special Public Prosecutor Ajay Assar confirmed that the APP had expressed reservations over the closure proposal and that detailed findings from the review had since been communicated to the Inspector General (Law and Order), following which the process to transfer the investigation to the CID was initiated a few days ago.
The transfer was formalised through an official order issued from the Maharashtra Police headquarters in Mumbai on February 23, directing that the investigation in the case registered at Ghoti Police Station under relevant provisions of the BNSS be handed over to the CID.
The order instructed the Additional Director General of Police (CID) to take over the probe and ensure that the investigation is completed within the prescribed time frame and a report submitted to the headquarters. It further directed the Superintendent of Nashik Rural Police to immediately transfer the complete original case papers, including the case diary and all related documents and evidence, to the CID and submit a compliance report.
Officials said that following the issuance of this order, the CID has begun the process of independently reassessing the material collected during the earlier investigation. The agency is expected to re-examine documentary and electronic evidence, record fresh statements where required, and scrutinise the sequence of events surrounding the alleged cash movement as well as the circumstances in which the robbery and kidnapping complaint was originally registered.
SIT chief and Additional Superintendent of Police (Nashik Rural) Aditya Milkhelkar said the investigation had been conducted properly and without mala fide intention, adding that any departmental scrutiny or related inputs would also be placed before the CID. He maintained that he had not acted under any improper influence and denied wrongdoing.
The case surfaced after a Nashik-based businessman lodged a complaint at Ghoti Police Station alleging kidnapping, extortion and the disappearance of a large cash consignment purportedly worth around Rs 400 crore in demonetised Rs 2,000 notes. According to the complaint, the money was allegedly being transported from Karnataka to a Gujarat-based ashram in Ahmedabad for conversion into legal tender when the alleged heist took place on October 16 at Chorla Ghat along the Maharashtra–Karnataka border.
Given the scale of the alleged amount and the seriousness of the kidnapping claim, the probe was taken over by the SIT of Nashik Rural Police. During the investigation, officers examined call data records, vehicle routes, financial transactions and statements of persons allegedly connected with the transport and handling of the cash.
During the probe, the SIT arrested eight accused, including builder Kishor Sawla, alleged hawala operator Virat Gandhi, a Government Railway Police officer and others previously named in the case. However, after completing the investigation within about 25 days, the SIT filed the closure report under Section 189 of the BNSS, which allows a magistrate to release accused when no prima facie case is established. In its report, the SIT concluded that neither the alleged Rs 400-crore heist nor the kidnapping of the complainant had taken place and that no material was found to substantiate the allegations. The report cleared all accused, allowing them to walk free, with the court observing that no criminal role had been established against them.
Sources said the internal review at the DGP office also examined complaints alleging that certain senior officials may have participated in parallel or unofficial inquiry-related activities connected to the case. These aspects, officials indicated, are also expected to be examined as part of the CID’s fresh investigation.
Crime
DRI seizes narcotic drugs valued at Rs 3.41 crore at Pune Railway station

Pune, Aug 26: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized suspected narcotic drugs valued at approximately Rs 3.41 crore and arrested a woman passenger at Pune Railway Junction in an intelligence-led operation.
Acting on specific intelligence, officers of the DRI’s Pune Regional Unit, under the Mumbai Zonal Unit, intercepted an Indian woman passenger during the early hours of August 25. The passenger had travelled from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi and was passing through Pune.
Following surveillance based on the intelligence input, DRI officers identified and intercepted the passenger at the railway junction. A detailed search of her baggage led to the recovery of 2,532 grams (gross weight) of a white/yellow-coloured crystalline substance suspected to be amphetamine. Officers also recovered 878 grams (gross weight) of tablets in different colours, suspected to contain 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).
The total value of the seized substances has been estimated at approximately Rs 3.41 crore.
The suspected narcotic drugs were seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The passenger was subsequently arrested, and further investigation is underway to determine the source of the drugs, their intended destination and other possible links in the trafficking network.
The seizure highlights the DRI’s continued focus on intelligence-based enforcement against the illicit smuggling and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, said officials.
According to officials, the operation also reinforces efforts to curb the illegal supply of drugs and support the Government’s vision of a Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, aimed at protecting public health and combating drug abuse and trafficking across the country.
Further investigation is underway, and more details may emerge.
Crime
Digital stalker arrested for creating fake Instagram accounts to defame Delhi woman

New Delhi, Aug 26: The Cyber Police Station of Delhi’s North-East District on Wednesday arrested a 27-year-old man for stalking, harassing and defaming a woman by creating multiple fake Instagram accounts in her name and using them to circulate obscene material among her husband and acquaintances.
The accused has been identified as Jeetu Kumar, a resident of New Ashok Nagar in Delhi. Police have also recovered a mobile phone allegedly used in the commission of the offence.
According to police, the case was registered as FIR No. 22/2026 under Section 67A of the Information Technology Act following a complaint by a woman residing in North-East Delhi.
The complainant said that an unidentified person had been repeatedly harassing and mentally torturing her through social media. The accused created fake Instagram accounts using her name and photographs and used the profiles to send obscene videos and images to her husband and other people known to her.
Police said the objective was to defame the woman and subject her to mental harassment and distress.
During the investigation, a dedicated police team led by Inspector Rahul Kumar, SHO of Cyber Police Station, North-East District, along with SI Mohit, HC Sandeep and Ct. Kapil Sharma, conducted a detailed technical investigation and collected vital clues.
The team obtained registration details of the suspected Instagram accounts from Meta. An analysis of the information revealed that the accounts were created and operated using a mobile number registered in the name of Jeetu Kumar.
Acting on the technical leads, the police conducted raids and apprehended the accused. One mobile phone used to create and operate the fake accounts was recovered from his possession.
During sustained interrogation, police said it was revealed that Kumar was known to the victim and had been following her since 2022. He created multiple fake Instagram IDs using the victim’s name and photographs as profile pictures, making it appear as though the accounts belonged to her.
Police further said that the accused used the fake accounts to send pornographic and obscene material to people associated with the victim. Whenever the accounts were reported to Meta and subsequently taken down, he created new accounts and repeated the activity.
The accused has no previous criminal involvement, according to police. Further investigation into the case is underway.
Crime
Police official suspended over case involving Telangana minister’s former OSD

Hyderabad, Aug 25: Inspector of Jubilee Hills Police Station in Hyderabad has been suspended over Forest and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha’s former OSD, N. Sumanth’s case.
Muttu Yadav, the Inspector (Station House Officer) of Jubilee Hills Police Station, faced the action over the alleged delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR) and failure to trace Sumanth.
Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar issued orders, suspending the SHO. A departmental inquiry has also been ordered into the handling of the case by the police.
Sumanth remained at large in a case of alleged assault on a real estate businessman. His driver was picked up by police on Sunday.
Sumanth and five others were booked following a complaint filed by the realtor, who alleged that he was assaulted with iron rods and that the accused demanded Rs 10 crore from him.
An attempt to murder case was registered against the former OSD and five others.
A zero FIR was registered against N. Sumanth and five others at Medipally Police Station of Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate last week.
Later, the case was transferred to Jubilee Hills Police Station of Hyderabad Commissionerate.
Gongidi Harikrishna, a resident of Boduppal, lodged a complaint. Harikrishna alleged that he was assaulted with iron rods and sticks and threatened with dire consequences.
The case was registered against former OSD Sumanth, Ramu, Prashanth, Arun Kumar Reddy, Karthik and Mahender Reddy under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The complainant said Sumanth and others assaulted him on July 30.
Harikrishna stated that Sumanth asked him to meet at Ramu’s office. Sumanth allegedly abused him and hit him with an iron rod. On Sumanth’s direction, others also joined the assault.
The complainant claimed that he sustained a fracture to his left hand, bleeding injuries and other injuries and that he underwent surgery on August 10.
The case was registered amid a controversy involving Minister Konda Surekha’s family.
Her daughter Konda Sushmitha’s recent remarks against Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy triggered a storm in the ruling Congress party.
At her mother’s birthday celebrations in Warangal district, Sushmita declared that she would contest from Parkala Assembly constituency in the next elections even if she was denied a party ticket. She also made allegations of corruption against the Chief Minister’s family.
Taking serious note of the allegations, the disciplinary committee of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) issued a show-cause notice to the minister.
Surekha distanced herself from her daughter’s remarks, saying the latter expressed her personal views.
-
Crime4 years agoClass 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra2 years agoFalse photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News2 years agoMinistry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMaharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News2 years agoJ&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface
-
Crime2 years agoBaba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
