Mumbai: In a major relief for residents of Mankhurd and Chembur, the first phase of Mumbai Metro Line 2B is set to be inaugurated on April 3. The residents have long demanded the opening of the 5.4-km stretch, which is set to ease congestion and improve connectivity.

The Phase I section of the corridor covers a 5.4-km stretch between Diamond Garden in Chembur and Mandale in Mankhurd, comprising five stations: Diamond Garden, Shivaji Chowk, BSNL Metro, Mankhurd and Mandale. 

The entire 23.6-km elevated Metro Line 2B corridor, with 20 stations, will connect several major transport systems, including the Western and Eastern Express Highways, suburban railway networks, the Monorail and other metro corridors such as Mumbai Metro Line 2A, Mumbai Metro Line 3 and Mumbai Metro Line 4. Once the corridor is fully operational, it is expected to reduce travel time along the route by up to 75 per cent.

The route between Chembur and Mankhurd has witnessed severe traffic jams, especially during peak hours. The evening rush between Chembur and Mankhurd is expected to ease, bringing relief to office-goers, students, and senior citizens alike. In Chembur, with the opening of the stretch, connectivity to popular locations such as Diamond Garden, K Star Mall, St. Anthony’s High School, RCF Colony, the Fine Arts Society, and Chembur Railway Station will become easier.

Earlier in the day, Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS, also conducted an on-ground inspection of the corridor infrastructure, reviewing safety measures and operational preparedness. Talking to X, Mukhejee added that the corridor with 5 modern stations is set to transform mobility in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs — faster, greener, and smarter connectivity for lakhs of Mumbaikars.

Mira-Bhayandar: In a tragic incident, an individual was hit by a suburban train at Bhayandar Station’s Platform No. 1 on Tuesday morning. The incident took place at 10:40 am when the deceased was reportedly crossing the tracks to catch the train during peak-hour travel. The victim was hit by the local train, following which he fell under the train and died.

Visuals shared by Gems of MBMC showed the Railway staff rushed to the scene and conducted a rescue operation. Currently, there is no information on the identity of the individual.

Just a few days back, a 39-year-old man allegedly died after being run over by a local train at Ghatkopar railway station. According to GRP, the incident occurred at around 12:35 pm on March 27 on platform number 4, on the Kalyan-bound fast track. The victim was hit by a fast local train (S-24), following which he fell under the train and sustained severe injuries.

The on-duty station master immediately informed police constable Chavan and arranged for the injured man to be rushed to Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar East for treatment. However, doctors at the hospital examined him and declared him dead before admission at around 1:26 pm.

Mumbai: In a major crackdown on cyber fraud, the Mumbai Police has uncovered a new and dangerous modus operandi in which fraudsters routed stolen money through multiple bank accounts before converting it into cash via petrol pumps. The Sir JJ Marg Police Station has arrested one accused  in connection with the case.

The arrested accused has been identified as Rahul Kumar Shaitanmal Sen (23), a resident of Pali in Rajasthan. According to police, Sen worked as a cash conversion agent and facilitated the transfer of fraud money into fake bank accounts through petrol pumps in exchange for commission.

Police said that apart from Sen, several others  Aftab Imran Sayyed (22), Mohammed Shadab Ashfaq Khan (25), Abdul Qadir Allauddin (40), Amit Subhashchandra Mishra (34), and Sanoj alias Pintu Singh (38) — were detained and later released after being served notices.

Commission-Based Network: Investigations revealed that the racket operated through a well-organized, commission-based network. Different members were assigned specific roles  some arranged fake or rented bank accounts, others handled the layering of funds across multiple accounts, while a few managed cash operations at petrol pumps. Each member was paid a commission, ensuring the smooth functioning of the network.

Petrol Pump Cash-Out: Police said the gang first obtained money through online fraud. The funds were then routed through multiple bank accounts to obscure their origin. Eventually, the money was transferred to petrol pump accounts, where it was converted into cash.

At the petrol pumps, gang members would collect cash from customers and deposit an equivalent amount into bank accounts. While the transactions appeared legitimate on the surface, they were actually used to launder cyber fraud proceeds and convert them into cash.

During interrogation, Sen admitted that he played a key role in converting digital money into cash and forwarding it within the network for commission. Police recovered ₹47,000 in cash, multiple mobile phones, and crucial banking transaction records from his possession. Analysis of his mobile devices revealed contacts with other accused, pointing to a wider network.

Funds Frozen, Wider Links Suspected:  Police have frozen ₹74,000 across various bank accounts as part of the investigation. Officials suspect that the racket may have links to other cities and states.

The fraud came to light through technical analysis of bank transactions and digital evidence. Police are now probing further to identify the mastermind and trace other members involved in the operation.