Mumbai, Sep 7: The Mumbai Crime Branch Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) on Monday has arrested a 45-year-old security guard from Jammu and Kashmir in connection with an investigation into an alleged threat issued from a Pakistan-based phone number.

The accused, identified as Mohammad Sharif, is originally from Jammu and Kashmir but has been living in Mumbai for the past few years. He was working as a security guard in the city.

The case came to light after a Mumbai resident allegedly received threatening WhatsApp calls and voice messages from a number linked to Pakistan. During the investigation, the Crime Branch found that Sharif was in contact with the Pakistan-based number from which the alleged threats were issued.

According to officials, police examined Sharif’s mobile phone and found evidence of conversations and other contact with the individual using the Pakistan-based number. Following this, Sharif was detained and questioned by the investigators before being formally arrested.

The investigation is being conducted against the backdrop of a demolition in Mumbai’s Bandra area, following which a threat was allegedly received from a Pakistan-based number. The Crime Branch is now probing the circumstances surrounding the threat and the nature of Sharif’s alleged connection with the person in Pakistan.

Investigators are also examining whether Sharif had any direct or indirect role in the alleged threat calls and voice messages. The police are trying to establish the identity and motive of the person who allegedly issued the threats and determine whether Sharif’s communication with the individual was connected to the incident.

The investigation has taken on a wider dimension after police learnt that Sharif’s father lives in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Investigators are now examining whether this connection has any relevance to the case and are verifying the circumstances surrounding Sharif’s contacts in Pakistan.

At present, the Mumbai Crime Branch is focusing on the communication trail between Sharif and the Pakistan-based number. Investigators are expected to examine the contents of their conversations, the frequency of communication, and other digital evidence to establish the exact nature of the alleged link.

Police are also likely to scrutinise the circumstances in which contact was established between Sharif and the person based in Pakistan and whether the communication had any connection with the alleged threats received by the Mumbai resident.

The Crime Branch is continuing its investigation and questioning Sharif to gather further information. Officials are examining the available digital evidence and other details to determine whether the accused had any role in the alleged threat and whether other individuals may also be involved.

Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses and the Crime Branch establishes the identities, motives and links of those allegedly connected with the threat.

Mumbai, Sep 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the seventh edition of the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2026 in Mumbai on Tuesday, marking the commencement of one of the world’s largest annual fintech gatherings that brings together policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, technology companies, investors and academia.

The four-day event, scheduled from September 8 to 11, will focus on emerging technologies and their role in advancing inclusive finance. Since its inception in 2020, GFF has evolved into a global platform for discussions on the future of finance and digital innovation, according to a Press Information Bureau statement.

The theme of GFF 2026 is “Potential to Impact: Agentic AI, Tokenisation, Quantum – Trusted, Connected, Global Systems for Inclusive Finance”.

GFF 2026 has been designed as a convergence point for policy, regulation, technology, capital and industry on a common platform. It seeks to build on India’s leadership in digital payments and financial inclusion and move from potential to impact. The discussions will focus on how Agentic AI, programmable finance, quantum technologies and other critical and emerging technologies can create trusted, inclusive and measurable outcomes for citizens, enterprises and economies globally, a government statement said on Monday.

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently positioned Mumbai not just as the financial capital of India, but as the country’s Fintech Capital. He emphasised that Mumbai historically under-leveraged its standing as India’s financial hub. By marrying traditional banking and capital markets with cutting-edge digital infrastructure, the city is evolving into an integrated fintech ecosystem.

Addressing perceptions around tech hubs like Bengaluru or Hyderabad, CM Fadnavis highlighted that Maharashtra leads the country in absolute numbers of startups, venture funding, and total unicorns, driven heavily by fintech enterprises. He further stated that Maharashtra currently houses over 60 per cent of India’s total data centre capacity (exceeding 1 GW operational capacity).

The state’s power-surplus status and dedicated cloud infrastructure provide the technical backbone required for low-latency financial transactions and digital payment processing. ​

The state government implemented dedicated fintech policies offering plug-and-play parks, single-window clearances, and rapid land allotments (often within 24-36 hours) to lower the cost and friction of doing business.

Through broader initiatives — including AI Innovation Parks, cyber-security centres, and digital public infrastructure — the administration is aligning the fintech domain with emerging technologies to secure financial networks and scale solutions globally, said the industry department sources.

Mumbai: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has issued illegal regulations to ban Garba Dandiya games for Muslim youth during Navratri starting from October 11. The state government should clarify its stand in this regard and show that no one is above the law, demanded Samajwadi Party’s Bhiwandi East MLA Raees Sheikh on Sunday. In this regard, MLA Raees Sheikh said that festivals create harmony in the society and there is a tradition of participating in festivals of other religions in India. People of other religions participate happily in Eid and Ramzan. However, Muslims are being deliberately targeted by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal. Recently, in New York, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had made a statement that ‘one who does not say ‘Muslims are not Hindus’. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad must not have taken notice of Bhagwat’s statement while issuing a fatwa to ban Garba Dandiya for Muslims. It is the policy of RSS and BJP to present one idea and actually do the opposite, this is cultural policing by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal. Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s fatwa to ban Muslims is against the Indian Constitution. The state government should take serious note of this order. Because the possibility of creating a law and order problem due to such an extremist stance cannot be ruled out. Festivals are the culture of Indians and a celebration of sharing communal feelings. However, recently extremist organizations like Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad are trying to incite religious sentiments and incite riots during festivals. MLA Raees Sheikh has demanded that the state government take notice of this and put a ban on such acts.