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Munib Memon’s bail plea rejected (2012 Pune blast case) : Bombay High Court

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3 years ago

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MUMBAI: The Bombay high court has rejected the bail plea of Munib Memon (38), one of the nine accused arrested for his alleged role in the conspiracy to trigger four bomb blasts on the Jangli Maharaj Road in Pune in August 2012.

A bench of justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Sharmila Deshmukh said Memon’s complicity in the conspiracy was evident from confessional statements of three other accused in the case and turned down the argument that he had been in custody for a long time. The bench said charges have been framed against the accused on May 25, 2022 and the prosecution intends to examine 107 witnesses to bring home the guilt of the nine accused.

Four low-intensity bombs, placed on bicycle baskets, went off near prominent spots along Jangli Maharaj Road, a prominent business area within Pune city, on August 1, 2012, and the fifth bomb was diffused. A local resident, who picked up a bag containing one of the four bombs, suffered minor injuries after he opened the bag.

“Having regard to the gravity of the offence, the role of the appellant, the evidence qua him and above observations made by us, we also decline to consider the appellant’s plea for bail on the ground of delay in commencement of the trial,” said the bench.

The court, however, directed the trial court to conclude the trial by December 2023, keeping with the right of the accused to a speedy trial.

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which initially investigated the case before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the case, arrested nine people, including Memon. ATS alleged that the blasts were planned to avenge the death of Quatil Siddique, a member of Indian Mujahideen, who was arrested for conspiracy to trigger a blast at a temple in Pune and was killed in Yerawada jail by two other inmates.

ATS said the accused initially planned to kill Sharad Mohol and Alok Bhalerao, the two men suspected to have killed Siddique when they were brought to court, but when the plan did not succeed. They later decided to carry out bomb attacks.

To be sure, Sharad Mohol and Alok Bhalerao were acquitted of the murder charge in June 2019.

In his request for bail, Munib Memon argued that he was made an accused only because he was employed with Firoz Sayyed, another accused in the case and the prosecution only accused him of getting some SIM cards on the basis of bogus documents prepared by another co-accused.

He also said that he had already spent 9 years and 9 months in jail.

Special public prosecutor Vaibhav Bagade, appearing for NIA, contended that Memon was present at a meeting where the attack was discussed and was entrusted the job of obtaining some SIM cards on the basis of bogus documents. The SIM cards were used in the commission of the crime.

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Crime

Mumbai: High-Profile Sex Racket Busted At Andheri Hotel; 3 Vietnamese Women Rescued

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12 hours ago

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July 25, 2025

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Mumbai: The MIDC Police busted a high-profile sex racket involving foreign nationals at a hotel in Andheri. The illegal operation was being run from the Empire Suite Hotel near Times Square on Andheri-Kurla Road. The raid, carried out recently following a tip-off, led to the rescue of three Vietnamese women who were allegedly forced into prostitution.

Acting on specific intelligence, senior police officials directed the MIDC Police to verify the information and take immediate action. a decoy customer was sent to the hotel to confirm the operation. Upon reaching the premises, the decoy was received by hotel manager Alam Khalil Chaudhary, who allegedly offered sex services for Rs 6,000 and led him to a room on the eighth floor. There, the decoy met a foreign woman, who later admitted to being involved in prostitution along with two other Vietnamese women staying in another room.

3 Women Rescued From Hotel

After receiving a pre-arranged signal from the decoy, the police team raided the 8th and 9th floors of the hotel, rescuing all three women. The women were taken in for questioning, during which they confirmed their involvement in sex work. They also revealed that their clients were coordinated through an agent who shared their photographs online and directed customers to the hotel.

Further investigation revealed that the sex racket was being run with the knowledge and alleged involvement of the hotel owner, Abdul Salam. According to the police, the manager facilitated all transactions and coordinated with the agent, while Salam oversaw the operation. Police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant sections of the Prevention of Immoral Traffic Act (PITA) against both Chaudhary and Salam.

Manhunt Launched For Hotel Owner

While Alam Chaudhary has been arrested, the hotel owner is currently absconding. Efforts are underway to trace and arrest him. The rescued women, all citizens of Vietnam, have had their passports seized and were sent to a shelter home after undergoing medical examinations. The Vietnamese Embassy in India has been informed of their rescue.

Police are now working to identify and track the agent involved in the online coordination of the racket and are investigating whether more people or locations are linked to the operation.

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Crime

Mumbai Police Seize 926 Kg Of Narcotics Worth ₹174 Crore In 6 Months; 744 Arrested In Citywide Crackdown

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15 hours ago

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July 25, 2025

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Mumbai: The city police have seized over 926 kilograms of contraband in the first half of this year and have arrested 744 persons allegedly involved in 634 drugs related cases registered in the city. Total value of the seized contraband is a whopping Rs 174.19 crore. Statistics revealed that ganja and Mephedrone (MD) have been the most seized contraband in the city.

Ganja, MD Top List Of Most Seized Drugs In City

According to the statistics provided by the police, from January till June this year, the police have registered 28 cases related to seizure of heroin, arrested 35 persons in heroin related cases and had seized 0.85 kg of heroin valued at Rs 2.09 crore.

The police have registered 10 cases related to seizure of charas, arrested 16 persons in charas related cases and have seized 16.27 kg of charas valued at Rs 14.39 crore. The police have registered 402 cases related to seizure of ganja, arrested 416 persons in ganja related cases and seized 865 kg of ganja valued at Rs 31.59 crore.

Cocaine Seizure Small In Volume, High In Value

Stating about the seizures of high-end drugs in Mumbai, the statistics revealed that the police have registered 10 cases related to cocaine seizure, arrested 17 persons in cocaine related cases and seized 6.49 grams of cocaine valued at Rs 57.18 crore.

Thousands Booked For Drug Consumption Alone

The police have registered 136 cases related to seizure of MD, arrested 187 persons in MD related cases and had seized 37.23 kg of MD valued at Rs 68.55 crore. As far as consumption cases are concerned, this year the police have registered 3484 drug consumption cases and have arrested 2968 persons in these cases.

Police Monitoring Darknet, Strengthening Informant Network

“We not only rely on our informant network to get information about drug trafficking in the city, but also keep a close watch on the darknet where drug dealings take place clandestinely. Our efforts are directed towards breaking the chain and syndicates involved in drug peddling in the city. We also take awareness campaigns to make citizens, especially youngsters aware about the menace of drugs and its impact on health,” said a police source.

Statistics from January till June 2025

Heroin – Cases (28), Persons Arrested (35), Seized (0.85 kg)

Charas – Cases (10), Persons Arrested (16), Seized (16.27 kg)

Ganja – Cases (402), Persons Arrested (416), Seized (865 kg)

Cocaine – Cases (10), Persons Arrested (17), Seized (6.49 kg)

MD – Cases (136), Persons Arrested (187), Seized (37.23 kg)

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Crime

Maharashtra: 31-Year-Old Govt Officer Accuses Husband Of Installing Spy Cameras In Bedroom, Dowry Harassment; Case Filed

Published

3 days ago

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July 23, 2025

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Pune: A Maharashtra government officer has alleged her husband secretly installed spy cameras in their bedroom to record her private moments, and subjected her to mental and physical harassment by demanding Rs 1.5 lakh dowry, police said.

About The Case

The 31-year-old woman alleged her husband, also a government employee, had installed cameras in the bathroom, too, the police said on Tuesday.

Based on the woman’s complaint, the police have registered a case against her husband, mother-in-law, three sisters-in-law and husbands of two sisters-in-law under sections 85 (cruelty by a husband or his relatives towards a woman), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, they said.

The woman, a Class-2 officer in a state government department, was harassed physically and mentally by her husband and his family members, the police said, citing the complaint.

“The woman has alleged she was subjected to mental and physical harassment by her husband and his relatives, who pressured her to get Rs 1.5 lakh from her parental home to pay installments of car. When she refused to bring the money, she was beaten up,” an official from Ambegaon police station said.

The woman also alleged her husband installed spy cameras in their bedroom to record her private moments and threatened to make them viral if she did not fulfil his demand, the official said.

A probe was on into the complaint, the police added.

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