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Kalina Drug Planting Case: Activists Question Reinstatement Of 4 Mumbai Policemen Suspended Over Alleged Incident

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Mumbai: The recent reinstatement of four police personnel suspended in connection with an alleged drug-planting case in Kalina, Santacruz East, has triggered outrage among social activists, who have questioned the accountability of senior police officials and ministers.

A police sub-inspector and three constables who allegedly planted drugs on an innocent individual in Kalina, Santacruz East, in August 2024 were recently reinstated.

The four personnel reportedly joined the Local Armed Police Headquarters in Naigaon, Dadar East, about a month ago after the reinstatement order was issued in December 2025.

Legal experts note that the suspension of a police officer or police personnel is usually a temporary administrative measure taken during an investigation or departmental inquiry. The reinstatement process in the Mumbai Police generally involves a formal review of the suspended officers or police personnel’s case.

Reinstatement may occur after the completion of a departmental inquiry, acquittal in a criminal case, or directions from authorities such as the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal or higher courts.

The decision is usually taken by the competent authority, such as the Mumbai Police Commissioner, often based on recommendations from a review committee. However, reinstatement is not automatic and depends on the findings of the inquiry and the circumstances of the case.

Social activist Gaurang Vora said, “Frequently, we see police personnel indulging in illegal activities such as corruption, taking bribes, planting drugs, or harassing people to extort money. In almost 99% of such cases, the involved police officers are reinstated without any explanation from the police department or concerned ministers. None of the superior authorities provide a clear reason for reinstating them.”

“In rare cases, perhaps 1%, the police may be falsely implicated. However, most of the time, some officers misuse their authority to extort money or harass people. Instead of taking strict action or putting them in jail, they are reinstated. This severely damages the image of the government and the police department,” Vora said.

However, activists argue that in cases involving serious allegations such as planting drugs or abusing official authority, the police department must maintain transparency regarding the inquiry process and clearly explain the reasons for reinstatement. They say that failing to do so could undermine public trust in the law-enforcement system.

Vora added, “Superior officers often reinstate them without giving any reasoning or informing the public. As a result, those police personnel feel they have done nothing wrong and may repeat such actions. I strongly protest against the reinstatement of these four police personnel. If they are reinstated, the authorities must explain the reasons to the public and the media.”

Slamming the decision, social activist Kamalakar Shenoy called for the dismissal and prosecution of the police personnel involved.

Shenoy stated, “The official motto of the Mumbai Police is ‘Sadrakshanaya Khalnigrahanaya,’ which means ‘for the protection of the good and the restraint of the evil.’ However, these four police personnel violated the very motto and duty of the police force. They have allegedly committed a serious offence. Why have they only been suspended? They should be dismissed from service. They should also be booked under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act and arrested. They attempted to frame an innocent person. If the CCTV footage had not come to light, that person’s life could have been ruined.”

Further, he stated, “The case against the involved police personnel should be fast-tracked, and they should also be booked under Section 409 for criminal breach of trust by a public servant.”

Praveen Dixit, a retired Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra, also reacted strongly to the development, stating, “Based on the available evidence, the services of these policemen should be terminated.”

Activist Aftab Siddique said, “If authorities are caught on camera in such a serious criminal incident, how can they be reinstated without a court order? If a departmental inquiry was conducted, there should also be an investigation into the officers who conducted the inquiry and gave the accused policemen a clean chit.”

She continued, “Another question is why the civilians allegedly involved in the drug case are still in jail. In this situation, the protectors appear to have become predators. There is video evidence showing what happened. Then how did the Commissioner and the Joint Commissioner of Law and Order reinstate them? How can the public trust the police after this? Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has repeatedly stated that there is zero tolerance for drug-related offences. Is this what zero tolerance means?”

A police officer said that, as per the MAT (Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal) order, the department must complete the internal inquiry within three months, and the suspended police personnel will be reinstated based on the inquiry’s findings.

The incident dates back to August 30, 2024, when PSI Vishwanath Omble and three constables, Imran Shaikh, Sagar Kamble and Yogendra Shinde (also known as Dabang Shinde), from the Khar Police Station allegedly visited Shahbaz Khan’s (32) livestock farm in Kalina, Santacruz East, in plain clothes, where Dylan Estbeiro (31) was working.

They allegedly frisked Dylan and planted 20 grams of mephedrone in his pocket during a staged search and later accused him of drug possession.

The entire incident was captured on CCTV footage, which was later reviewed and shared publicly by Shahbaz Khan. Following the release of the footage, Dylan was released by the Khar police. The video sparked public outrage, following which the department suspended all four police personnel on August 31, 2024.

Following the incident, the Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognisance, and the case is still pending before the Commission.

Apart from this, the Vakola police registered an FIR on December 19 against the four personnel, more than three months after the incident, following directions from the Human Rights Commission.

Crime

Two apprehended for firing at house in Nand Nagri to create fear

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New Delhi, Sep 14: The Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of North-East District Police worked out a firing incident reported under the jurisdiction of Nand Nagri Police Station by apprehending two accused persons who allegedly fired at a complainant’s house to create fear.

The accused were identified with the help of extensive CCTV footage analysis and technical investigation.

According to police, on September 4, two unidentified persons riding a scooty fired at the complainant’s house in the Nand Nagri area with the intention of creating fear and fled from the spot.

Following the incident, FIR No. 485/26 dated September 4 was registered at Nand Nagri Police Station under relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act, and an investigation was initiated.

Considering the seriousness of the incident, the AATS team of North-East District was tasked with identifying and apprehending those involved.

A dedicated team led by Inspector Deepak Pandey, In-charge of AATS/NED, analysed numerous CCTV recordings and developed clues through technical investigation and other sources. Sustained efforts and detailed examination of the available evidence helped the team identify the suspects.

On September 12, acting on a specific tip-off, the AATS team conducted a raid in the Sunder Nagri area and apprehended Azim Khan. During interrogation, his associate Imran alias Rahul was also apprehended at his instance. Both accused were subsequently handed over to the local police for further legal proceedings.

Police said Imran alias Rahul, 25, son of Ibrahim and a resident of Bhopra Chowk, Siddqi Building, Uttar Pradesh, was previously involved in two theft cases.

Azim Khan, 36, son of Illiyas and a resident of Gali No. 1, Sunder Nagri, Delhi, has nine previous cases registered against him, involving murder, attempt to murder, culpable homicide, robbery, snatching, rape, kidnapping, theft and offences under the Arms Act. He is a Bad Character of Nand Nagri Police Station.

Further investigation into the case by the police is underway.

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Crime

‘Felt unsafe’: Woman biker alleges car attack after asking occupants to maintain distance in Gurugram

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Gurugram, Sep 14: A woman biker in Haryana’s Gurugram has alleged that a car repeatedly followed her before hitting her motorcycle and fleeing the spot, leaving her shaken and raising concerns over road safety in the city.

“I have nothing to say, but today I felt unsafe on Gurugram roads. People like these aren’t afraid of hitting people and running away,” the woman said after the incident.

The rider, who identifies herself as Sia and operates the Instagram page ‘rebelwheels_sia_’, uploaded footage of the incident on social media and described what she said happened before the collision.

According to Sia, the incident occurred on Sunday while she was riding her Aprilia RS 457 sports bike along Golf Course Road with members of her biking group.

In the video, she alleged that the occupants of a car had been following her from the beginning of the ride. She claimed that the people inside the vehicle behaved aggressively and attempted to get close to her motorcycle.

Sia said she asked the occupants to maintain a safe distance, but instead, they allegedly asked her to stop. She also claimed that the men appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

The rider said she continued moving ahead in an attempt to prevent the car from cutting her off. A friend riding behind her also tried to intervene by positioning his motorcycle in a way that prevented the car from repeatedly coming alongside her.

Despite this, Sia alleged, the car continued following her. She claimed that at one point, the driver attempted to cut across the path of her motorcycle, resulting in a collision.

The impact knocked Sia off her bike, while her motorcycle was dragged several metres along the road. The car then reportedly left the area.

The incident was captured on an action camera fitted to Sia’s motorcycle.

She further alleged that one of her friends pursued the car and attempted to stop the driver. The vehicle eventually halted at a traffic signal, where the friend confronted the driver and allegedly told him that he was responsible for the collision.

However, according to Sia, the driver denied causing the accident and subsequently drove away from the traffic signal.

In a social media post, Sia appealed to the Gurugram Police to take action against motorists who allegedly put other road users at risk and flee after causing accidents.

She also shared the vehicle’s registration number and identified the registered owner mentioned in the vehicle’s registration certificate.

The video subsequently gained significant attention online, with social media users expressing support for the rider and calling for action against the alleged driver. Several users tagged the Delhi Police, Gurugram Police, Gurugram Traffic Police and Haryana Police, urging authorities to investigate the incident.

Some users also called for an FIR to be registered, while others highlighted concerns over rash driving and the safety of motorists, particularly on busy roads in Gurugram.

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Crime

Hyderabad horror: Minor girl sexually assaulted by 9 people, all booked under POCSO Act

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Hyderabad, Sep 14: A minor girl was drugged, abducted and sexually assaulted by nine people over a span of three days in Medchal Malkajgiri district near Hyderabad.

All the accused were booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and arrested after the victim escaped from their clutches and lodged a complaint at Alwal Police Station under Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate.

The 16-year-old girl, a Class 11 student, was sexually assaulted on various occasions by the accused including those known to her, at different places including in a car, during a train journey and in a hotel room.

According to police, the victim came in contact with one J. Varun when she was in 10th class. A few months ago, the accused sexually assaulted her in his car after giving her a chocolate laced with sedatives. Another youth Romala Varun, who was introduced to her by J. Varun, also sexually assaulted her after making her a cigarette, liquor and Ganja addict.

Preliminary investigation by police revealed that the victim had earlier came in touch with one David Varun through Instagram. The accused had made her consume liquor and misbehaved with her.

Suspicious over her behavior, the girl’s father admonished her on September 9. Angry over this, the girl left the house and reached Bollarum Railway Station, where a person Neeraj met her. He called his friend Vicky and they sexually assaulted the victim after giving her some intoxicated substances.

Later, Vicky along with another friend Nikhil took the girl to a OYO room in Dulapally. Vicky and Nikhil along with two others sexually assaulted her. On the night of September 9, Vicky brought her his house in Bollarum and confined her here.

The next day she managed to escape and reached Bollarum Railway Station. Vicky along with his friend Ganesh reached there and forcibly drugged her. They took her to Medchal Railway Station. From there, they took her to Malkajgiri and on the way sexually assaulted her in the train. After reaching Malkajgiri, they boarded an autorickshaw. However, she managed to escape and reached her house and with the help of family members approached police.

On a complaint by the victim, police registered cases under POCSO Act and various sections of BNS against the accused.

The police have also arrested manager and owner of OYO hotel for admitting the minor and allotting a room without proper verification.

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