Thane: The Thane Crime Branch has arrested two persons for allegedly possessing 15.9kg MD (mephedrone), a psychotropic substance, with the intent to sell it in the city. The accused – Tanvir Ahmad Ansari, 23, and Mahesh Desai, 35, residents of Mumbra and Ulhasnagar – were intercepted after a nakabandi on August 9 at Ranjnoli Naka on the Bhiwandi-Kalyan bypass road.

Cops Seize ₹31 Crore MD in Back-to-Back Car Interceptions

The police first stopped a car driven by Tanvir and, upon inspection, recovered 11.763kg MD. Soon after, another car driven by Mahesh was intercepted, and officials recovered 4.161kg MD powder from him; the total value of the contraband is Rs31.84 crore. Their cars and phones were seized by the police.

Preliminary interrogation revealed Tanvir is already named in three FIRs, including drug-related charges, at Mumbra, Daighar, and Byculla police stations. Mahesh, confessed to four prior offences, including cases under the NDPS Act and MCOCA at Ajara Police station in Kolhapur.

Kolsewadi Police have arrested two individuals, including a woman, for allegedly beating a four-year-old girl to death after she had two potty accidents within an hour. The accused have been identified as Prathmesh Kambri (23) and his wife, Aprana Prathmesh Kambri, both residents of Bhivpuri in Karjat, Raigad district.

Kidnapping Complaint Filed Against Accused

According to police, a kidnapping complaint was lodged on October 6, 2024, at Kolsewadi Police Station by Jyoti Satpute. She alleged that her four-year-old niece had been kidnapped by the accused, who are her father’s brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

Confession Reveals Cause of Death

The suspects were brought in for questioning, during which they reportedly confessed that Prathmesh had beaten the child to death due to her having two potty accidents within an hour. Following the murder, the couple allegedly wrapped the body in a gunny bag, covered it with a mattress, and dumped it in an isolated area.

Arrest Made Following Police Tip-Off

Based on a tip-off, police laid a trap and apprehended the accused on August 11 in Chinchwali village, Bhivpuri. They were produced before a court and remanded in police custody for further investigation.

Police Statement on the Investigation

DCP Atul Zende (Kalyan division) said, “The couple had been absconding since the FIR was lodged. They had stopped using their mobile phones, making it difficult to trace them. Acting on a tip-off, we arrested them. During the preliminary investigation, we learned that they had brought the child to their home in August to care for her. We have added murder charges to the FIR.”

Family Background and Custody Details

Police also confirmed that the girl’s father has been in jail for the past year in connection with a theft case in Ulhasnagar. After his arrest, he had sent his daughter to stay with his sister-in-law in Bhivpuri. When the complainant was unable to reach the Kambri couple despite a personal visit, she filed a kidnapping complaint.

Mumbai: A startling case of theft has emerged from the upscale Tardeo area of Mumbai, where jewellery worth Rs 10.5 lakh was stolen from a private bungalow. The incident has sent shockwaves through the neighbourhood, with police now turning their attention toward the family’s caretaker, who is the primary suspect in the ongoing investigation.

The complaint was lodged by Devika Panchal, a 40-year-old resident of a bungalow situated near Jaywant Industries. Panchal lives with her family and her ailing 70-year-old father, who is paralysed and requires constant care. To assist with his needs, the family had employed a young male caretaker whose duty was to look after the elderly man throughout the day and leave by 11 p.m. each night.

On the evening of August 9, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Panchal went to check on her father and noticed something unusual. The wooden cupboard in the room had been left open, clothes were scattered across the floor, and the drawer inside was ajar. Most alarmingly, the key to the cupboard, usually kept hidden and secure within, was lying outside, suggesting a deliberate breach.

Upon further inspection, it was discovered that several valuable pieces of gold jewellery were missing. These included a gold necklace, a chain, a ring, earrings, and bangles, collectively valued at Rs 10.5 lakh. The sudden disappearance of these items, paired with the visible signs of tampering, led Panchal to suspect foul play, as reported.

What made the situation more suspicious was the limited access to the room. On the day of the incident, only the caretaker and the brother of the housekeeper had been present in the house. However, it was confirmed that only the caretaker had entered the father’s room. Based on this information, Panchal filed a formal complaint with the Tardeo Police.

The police have since registered a case and initiated a thorough investigation. Officers are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the house and surrounding area to trace any suspicious movements. They are also conducting a background check on the caretaker, seeking to determine whether he has a history of criminal activity or connections to other thefts in the city.