Navi Mumbai: Navi Mumbai Police Crime Branch Unit-3 has successfully traced and returned 122 mobile phones, collectively worth around Rs 25 lakh, that had either been stolen or reported missing within the Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate limits. The recovered devices were officially handed over to their rightful owners by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ajaykumar Landge.

Citizens who received their phones back expressed relief and gratitude. “I had given up hope of ever finding my lost phone. Getting it back today feels like getting back a part of my life. I am truly thankful to the Navi Mumbai Police,” said one of the recipients. Another citizen remarked, “This effort by the crime branch has restored our faith in the police. Their hard work and sincerity mean a lot to us.”

The operation was carried out using the Central Government’s CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register) portal, which helps track lost or stolen devices. Acting on directives from senior officials, Crime Branch Unit-3 launched a special drive under the guidance of ACP (Crime) Ajaykumar Landge. Senior Police Inspector Avinash Kaldat, along with API Pawan Nandre, PSI Abhaysingh Shinde, PSI Madhav Ingle, and their team, led the recovery mission.

Explaining the process, ACP Landge said, “The CEIR portal is a powerful tool that enables us to trace mobile phones across states. Our team conducted a detailed technical analysis and coordinated with local police units in different regions. Despite challenges, we ensured the devices were returned to their rightful owners.”

Police investigations revealed that several of the stolen and missing phones were being used in other districts of Maharashtra and even in other states. With persistent efforts, the Unit-3 team managed to track and retrieve them.

Expressing his appreciation for the team’s work, Senior PI Avinash Kaldat stated, “It was not just about recovering phones—it was about restoring confidence among citizens. Our team worked round the clock to make this possible.”

Ultimately, 122 mobile phones were handed back to citizens, who applauded the police for their diligence.

Mumbai: The Customs Department at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai Zone-III, carried out multiple interceptions between September 21 and 24, recovering narcotics, foreign currency and unclaimed gold worth several crores.

On September 21, officers intercepted a passenger arriving from Colombo on flight UL-141. Examination of the checked-in trolley bag revealed 2.624 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, valued at approximately Rs 2.624 crore. The narcotics were concealed inside the bag, and the passenger was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Acting on specific intelligence the same day, two passengers travelling to Dubai on flight EK-509 were found carrying concealed foreign currency. One passenger had Rs 7.11 lakh, while the other was found with Rs 49.38 lakh, both hidden in handbags.

Two days later, On September 23, a passenger arriving from Bangkok on flight SQ-424 was intercepted after profiling. The checked-in baggage contained 18.400 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, valued at Rs 18.4 crore. The passenger was arrested under the NDPS Act. Meanwhile, another passenger travelling to Jakarta on flight 6E-1601 was found carrying Rs 19.17 lakh in concealed foreign currency.

Additionally, custom routine checks near immigration counters led to the recovery of 365 grams of unclaimed gold dust, valued at Rs 38.10 lakh, under the Customs Act, 1962.

Officials said these operations highlight the proactive measures undertaken by Customs authorities to curb illegal activities at one of India’s busiest airports. The multiple interceptions over the four-day period also underscore the effectiveness of enhanced profiling techniques, intelligence sharing, and risk-based examination procedures in deterring smuggling activities at CSMIA.

New Delhi, Sep 27: In a major crackdown on builders accused of cheating thousands of homebuyers, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday registered six cases against real estate companies in Kolkata, Bengaluru and Mumbai, along with unknown officials of financial institutions, following directions of the Supreme Court. Searches were conducted at 12 premises across the three cities, during which “various incriminating documents and some digital electronic evidences have been seized”, the agency said.

The probe stems from petitions filed by aggrieved homebuyers before the Supreme Court, highlighting large-scale cheating by developers and coercive recovery measures by financial institutions.

The apex court had flagged the “unholy nexus” between builders and lenders through the controversial subvention scheme of home loans and, in April 2025, directed the CBI to initiate seven preliminary enquiries.

Accordingly, the CBI earlier filed 22 FIRs against builders in the National Capital Region (NCR), which are under investigation.

The present action follows the completion of the seventh enquiry covering projects outside NCR.

After reviewing the CBI’s status report, the Supreme Court directed the agency to convert its findings into six regular cases.

“Now, on completion of the seventh Preliminary Enquiry which was against various builders outside NCR, CBI has submitted the status report before the Supreme Court. Upon perusal of the report submitted by the CBI, the HSupreme Court directed CBI to register six Regular Cases against different builders in Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai and unknown officials of financial institutions,” the agency said in its press statement.

“In compliance, CBI has registered six cases and conducted searches at twelve locations/places at Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai and Searches are still in progress,” it further said.

The six named entities are: M/s Ithaca Estate Pvt. Ltd, Bengaluru, M/s LGCL Urban Homes (India) LLP, Bengaluru, M/s Ozone Urbana Infra Developers Pvt. Ltd, Bengaluru, M/s Shashwati Realty Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai (with projects in Bengaluru), M/s MKHS Housing LLP, Kolkata and M/s ACME Realities Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai.

The Supreme Court’s intervention followed mounting complaints nationwide that homebuyers were left in the lurch after developers failed to deliver projects, while banks continued to demand EMIs under the subvention model.

The CBI’s widening probe now aims to establish the extent of collusion between real estate firms and financial institutions.