Mumbai: Three days after Mumbai Police uncovered a massive mephedrone manufacturing unit in Nalasopara’s Pelhar area, the Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) Police Commissioner on Monday suspended the senior inspector of Pelhar police station for failing to detect the illegal operation running almost under his nose.

Police Commissioner Niket Kaushik issued the suspension order against Senior Inspector Jitendra Vankoti, citing ‘inexcusable negligence’ in monitoring his jurisdiction. The order noted that the illegal factory was located barely 200–300 metres from the Pelhar police station. Despite its proximity, Vankoti claimed he was unaware of the activity, a response the department found unacceptable.

“The site of the above incident was 200 to 300 meters away from Pelhar police station, but during the interrogation, Senior Police Inspector Jitendra Vankoti has stated that he was unaware of the incident,” the order stated. It further mentioned that despite his subordinates being engaged in related intelligence and patrol duties, the inspector failed to ensure effective monitoring, obtain confidential information, or initiate timely action against illegal businesses.

The disciplinary action follows a major operation conducted by Mumbai Police’s Zone-6 Narcotics Cell in coordination with Tilak Nagar police, which raided the factory in the Rashid Compound area of Pelhar, Nalasopara (East) on October 25. During the raid, officers seized over 7 kilograms of mephedrone (MD) and precursor chemicals valued at around Rs 13.5 crore, along with raw materials worth another Rs 1 crore.

Five individuals, including the key manufacturer of the synthetic drug, were arrested. Among them is Sohail Abdul Saif Ali Khan, a former hawker from Mumbra who allegedly transitioned into large-scale drug production. Police said Khan operated multiple luxury vehicles, including a BMW, and had been running the illegal unit for nearly 10 months, producing around 50 kilograms of contraband every month.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-6, Chembur) Sameer Sheikh supervised the operation, which exposed an intricate network of distribution linked to Mumbai’s narcotics supply chain.

Mumbai: Offering a serene escape from Mumbai’s urban chaos, the Malabar Hill nature trail has blossomed into a monsoon hotspot for both Mumbaikars and tourists.

Between June and September, over 1.81 lakh visitors soaked in the beauty of the rains along the lush pathways. Since its inauguration in March, the trail has drawn nearly 2.98 lakh visitors, earning the BMC Rs 72 lakh in revenue.

Inspired by Singapore’s elevated forest walkways, the wooden walkway at Malabar Hill offers a unique nature experience. The 485-metre-long, 2.4-metre-wide trail winds through the lush Malabar Hill Forest, beginning near Kamala Nehru Park, providing a peaceful escape into greenery.

To ensure a pleasant visit, entry is limited to 200 people per one-hour slot, with fees of Rs 25 for Mumbaikars and Rs. 100 for foreign tourists. The walkway features sweeping views of the Arabian Sea, a dedicated birdwatching zone with a glass-bottom section, and a scenic viewing deck. The eco-friendly initiative quickly gained popularity, with slots often fully booked up to two weeks in advance.

The elevated walkway is open for visit from 5 am to 8 pm. According to data provided by the BMC, the Malabar Hill Nature Trail attracted a total of 2,91,836 visitors between March 30 and September 30, generating a revenue of Rs 72,98,950 for the civic body.

Visitor numbers were relatively lower in June compared to the summer vacation period. However, heavy rainfall did not deter nature enthusiasts from visiting the trail.

“In fact, during the Diwali holidays, large crowds flocked to enjoy the greenery, though some visitors were turned away due to the lack of advance bookings,” said an official.

Visitors in March to May – 1,10,327

Revenue- 27,95,450

June…45,515…11,49, 200

July….53,707…..13,65,700

August….48,254….11,25,025

September ….34,033…8,63,575

Mumbai: The Chembur Police have registered a case against Mohammad Ali Mohammad Salim Shaikh, 40, for allegedly duping ten people of Rs83.12 lakh under the pretext of offering lucrative returns on investments in his goat trading business.

According to the FIR, the accused lured victims by promising a monthly profit of Rs5,000 on every Rs1 lakh invested. The complaint was filed by Abdul Aziz Abdul Salam Sayyed, 35, a mehndi artist residing in the Diamond Garden area of Chembur.

Sayyed told the police that in December 2023, a woman named Nilofar, who worked with him, introduced him to her cousin Mohammad Ali, claiming he was engaged in goat trading. Nilofar assured Sayyed that she herself had invested Ra3 lakh with Ali in 2017 and was earning Rs15,000 per month in returns.

Trusting them, Sayyed invested Rs2 lakh in December 2023, followed by Rs5 lakh in March 2024. Initially, Ali paid the promised monthly returns in cash. Sayyed later invested an additional Rs3 lakh in May 2024, and subsequently another Rs5 lakh, taking his total investment to Rs15 lakh.

However, Ali allegedly stopped paying profits from April 2025 and became untraceable, ignoring Sayyed’s calls. When Sayyed and his mother, Tahera Abdul Salam Sayyed, 52, who had also invested Ra15 lakh went to Ali’s residence, his mother, Mariya Bee, allegedly gave evasive replies.

Soon after, Sayyed discovered that several others had been similarly cheated. The victims include Farheen Arif Shaikh (Rs4 lakh), Jinat Abdul Hadi Shaikh (Rs2 lakh), Sameen Mubarak Sayyed (Rs9.5 lakh), Mohammad Hamza Hasham Shaikh (Rs11.42 lakh), Afsana Kasim Sayyed (Rs2 lakh), Afsar Bashir Shaikh (Rs4 lakh), Yatin Sargdhar Dhaktode (Rs8 lakh), and Nilofar Mohammad Hamza Shaikh (Rs12.2 lakh).

In total, Ali is accused of collecting Rs83.12 lakh from ten investors under the guise of high-return goat investments.

The Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Protection of Interests of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) (MPID) Act. Investigations are underway.