Mumbai, Nov 12: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a major gold smuggling and melting syndicate in Mumbai under “Operation Bullion Blaze”, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The operation exposed an organised network engaged in smuggling gold into India, melting it in clandestine furnaces, and offloading the refined bullion into the grey market.

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers conducted simultaneous searches on November 10 at four discreet premises in Mumbai — two illegal melting units and two unregistered shops.

Both furnaces were found operational, equipped with complete setups to convert smuggled gold concealed in wax and other forms into bars. Officers seized 6.35 kg of gold on the spot and detained those running the units.

Follow-up searches at two shops linked to the mastermind — used for receiving smuggled gold and selling melted bars to local buyers — led to the recovery of an additional 5.53 kg of gold bars.

In total, 11.88 kg of 24-carat gold valued at Rs 15.05 crore and 8.72 kg of silver worth Rs 13.17 lakh were seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Eleven persons, including the mastermind, his father, a manager, four hired melters, an accountant, and three delivery personnel, were arrested. All accused were produced before the court in Mumbai, and remanded to judicial custody, according to the statement.

Preliminary investigations indicate a well-organised conspiracy to smuggle and sell gold illicitly, in clear violation of India’s gold import policy and aimed at evading government revenue.

The DRI reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling organised smuggling networks that undermine revenue, distort markets, and threaten fiscal stability. By intercepting illicit gold flows and disrupting the shadow economy, the DRI continues to safeguard India’s economic interests and uphold a fair and transparent trading environment.

Further investigation is underway.

Mumbai: The Churchgate railway police have booked a man for allegedly molesting and filming a woman without her consent on a local train.

The accused has been identified as Hemanshu Gandhi, 40, a resident of Malad East and an employee of a private company. The victim, a 30-year-old advocate, practises at the Bombay High Court. According to the railway police, the incident occurred on November 9, around 8.20 pm on a Churchgate–Borivali fast local train in the general compartment.

The victim, a resident of Bandra West, was returning home from work when the accused allegedly recorded her video without permission. She objected to his act and later lodged a complaint with the Borivali railway police after alighting from the train.

The Borivali police registered a zero FIR and transferred the case to the Churchgate railway police. The case has been registered under Sections 77 (voyeurism), 78 (stalking), and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the BNS on November 10. The GRP has issued a notice to the accused.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Tuesday evening conducted a search at the residence of a teacher, identified as Ibrahim Abidi, in the Kausa area of Mumbra, Thane district, over alleged links with the banned terror outfit Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

Abidi, who resides in a rented apartment at Ifayat Housing Society in Mumbra, was associated with a local madrassa and also taught Urdu at a mosque in Kurla every Sunday. He had been under surveillance for suspected online communication with extremist networks.

During the operation, ATS seized Abidi’s mobile phone and the hard disk of his computer for forensic examination. He has been detained for questioning, though no arrests have been made so far, officials confirmed. “We have recovered digital material and are verifying his online activity and contacts. The contents will be examined before deciding the next course of action,” a senior ATS officer said.

Sources said Abidi was suspected of attempting to influence children toward extremist ideologies. ATS teams also conducted a search at a premises linked to his first wife in Kurla, who is also being questioned.

Following the recent car blast in Delhi, central and state security agencies have intensified surveillance on individuals suspected of being sympathizers or associates of banned organizations. The raids are part of an ongoing statewide operation launched by the Maharashtra ATS to trace individuals maintaining contact with radical networks or consuming extremist online content.

Apart from Mumbra, ATS teams also carried out coordinated searches in Padgha and Bhiwandi, focusing on tracing communication and financial networks of individuals suspected of links with radical elements. Officials said the exercise is being conducted in coordination with central intelligence agencies as part of a preventive security drive across the state.