Mumbai: In a major crackdown on the sale of counterfeit branded goods, Mumbai Police have dismantled an organised racket dealing in fake Apple accessories in Ghatkopar East, seizing products worth Rs. 16.33 lakh and booking six shopkeepers in the case.

The action was carried out by a team from Pant Nagar police station following a specific tip-off about the sale of duplicate mobile accessories in the Patel Chowk and Nilyog Mall areas. Acting swiftly, police officials devised a coordinated plan and split into six teams to conduct simultaneous raids at multiple locations.

During the operation, authorities raided six shops where a large quantity of counterfeit products was recovered. The seized items included mobile chargers, adapters, USB cables, phone covers, back panels, earphones, AirPods and batteries, all falsely branded as products of Apple Inc. Officials said the items were near-identical replicas designed to mislead customers into believing they were purchasing genuine goods.

To verify the authenticity of the products, representatives from Apple Inc. were present during the raids. Using technical expertise and specialised identification techniques, they confirmed on the spot that all the seized items were counterfeit.

The report also said that the accused had been sourcing these fake products at significantly lower prices and selling them at inflated rates under the Apple brand name. Police said the shopkeepers were illegally using Apple’s logo and product designs without authorisation, thereby deceiving customers and violating intellectual property rights.

Based on the findings, cases have been registered against all six accused under Sections 51 and 63 of the Copyright Act, The seized goods have been confiscated and sent for further forensic examination as part of the ongoing probe.

Police officials stated that this operation is part of a broader drive to curb the circulation of counterfeit branded goods in Mumbai. They added that further investigations are underway to trace the supply chain and identify other individuals linked to the racket.

Authorities have reiterated their commitment to taking strict action against such illegal activities and warned traders against dealing in counterfeit products.

Mumbai, March 20: An eight-year-old boy died after falling into a water filled construction pit in Malad East on Thursday, March 19 while attempting to retrieve a ball, officials said.

The incident occurred at around 8:00 pm at Chagan Patel Chawl, Ambewadi, in Kurar Village. The boy, identified as Divyansh Rajesh Mourya (8), had reportedly gone to retrieve a ball when he accidentally fell into a pit excavated by Mauli Construction.

According to police officials from Kurar Village Police Station, the pit was filled with water, which made the situation critical. Upon receiving information, police personnel rushed to the spot and carried out a rescue operation. The child was pulled out of the pit and immediately shifted to Bharatratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivali for treatment.

However, despite efforts to save him, the attending Assistant Medical Officer (AMO) declared the boy dead at the hospital.

The case was later confirmed by the concerned Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) from Kurar Village Police Station.

Further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be ascertained.

This news comes in a month after a tragic accident occurred in Subhash Nagar, Chembur, when six workers fell from the sixth floor of an under-construction building, leaving one dead and five seriously injured.

The incident took place at the “Adityaraj Springs” project, a G+16-storey tower being constructed as part of the redevelopment of Building No. 36 in the area. Construction work has been completed up to the eighth floor.

According to civic officials, 55-year-old Ramallu lost his life in the accident. The injured have been identified as Gunadhar Rai (22) whose condition is critical, Usrai (30), Ramesh Rai (25), Vijay (35), and Sandeep (27).

Residents alleged that the workers were not provided with essential safety gear such as helmets and safety belts. The incident has once again raised serious concerns over adherence to safety norms at construction sites in the city.

Mumbai: An elderly woman was seriously injured after being hit by a garbage dumper truck in Mahim on a busy stretch. Disturbing visuals showed the woman in glaring pain. The incident took place near the Mumbai Metro 3’s Shitladevi Mandir Metro Station in Mahim.

The victim was attempting to cross the road when the garbage dumper truck hit her. The dumper, reportedly moving at speed, struck her, leaving her with severe injuries and heavy blood loss. Visuals also showed locals rushing to help and taking her to the nearest hospital.

Currently, there is no update on her condition. Though visuals showed police and traffic police on the scene, it is yeh not known if any case was registered against the garbage dumper truck.

Meanwhile, in another recent accident case, three students of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay were killed after their car met with an accident on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway near Lonavala on Thursday morning while returning from Khandala, where they had gone to watch the sunrise.

The deceased, identified as Omkumar Borse (23), a resident of Nashik; Lay (20), from Nagpur; and Shreyansh Sharma (22), from Jaipur, were travelling in a Volkswagen Polo when the accident occurred. Police officials said that the exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined, as there were no eyewitnesses at the scene.