Mumbai, In a shocking cybercrime, fraudsters allegedly placed a retired bank manager under “digital arrest” for 54 days in Mumbai’s Bhandup area, extorting Rs 40.90 lakh by threatening to implicate him in the Delhi bomb blasts and a money laundering case, Mumbai Police said on Wednesday.

According to Mumbai Police, the accused impersonated officers from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), creating an atmosphere of fear and psychological pressure that forced the victim to comply with their demands.

The victim, Rajendra, a former manager at the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank, was manipulated into transferring large sums of money, including liquidating his stock market investments.

The incident began on March 10, when Rajendra received a video call via the Signal app from an account named “ATS Department.” The caller introduced himself as PSI Singh, claiming to be an officer from the Delhi ATS. He alleged that Rajendra’s name had surfaced in connection with the Delhi bomb blasts that took place in January, as well as in a money laundering case.

The fraudsters further claimed that a bank account had been fraudulently opened in Karnataka using Rajendra’s Aadhaar details and mobile number, through which suspicious transactions amounting to Rs 2.65 crore had been carried out. To intensify the threat, they cited a purported Supreme Court order and warned of immediate arrest and confiscation of his assets.

Under constant surveillance via video calls, Rajendra was instructed to isolate himself in a separate room at home, avoid speaking to anyone, and strictly follow their directions. Acting under extreme mental duress, he initially transferred Rs 2.90 lakh. The fraud escalated when he was coerced into selling shares worth Rs 29 lakh from his stock market investments. Of this amount, Rs 28 lakh was siphoned off into multiple bank accounts controlled by the fraudsters.

The accused further extorted Rs 10 lakh under the pretext of “bail security,” which was arranged by the victim’s wife through a loan. The fraudsters assured Rajendra that the entire amount would be refunded within two days and that the case would be resolved.

However, soon after receiving the money, the accused cut off all communication. After waiting for several days without any response, Rajendra realised he had been duped.

He subsequently filed a complaint with the national cybercrime helpline 1930 on May 3, followed by a formal complaint with the Mumbai Cyber Cell on May 4. Police have launched an investigation to trace the perpetrators and identify the bank accounts used in the fraud.

Mumbai: The investigation into offences involving the procurement of incorrect birth registration certificates in Mumbai on the basis of forged documents is being carried out by the Crime Branch, Mumbai.

Raj Tilak Raushan, deputy commissioner of police, Crime Branch, stated, “During the course of investigation, as well as from other complaints received, it has come to light that a large number of such birth registration certificates have been obtained through similar fraudulent means.”

Considering the wide scope and seriousness of the matter, the Hon’ble Commissioner of Police, Brihanmumbai, has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a thorough and effective investigation into these offences and the complaints received, Raushan added.

The said Special Investigation Team is headed by the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) and comprises the Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), Mumbai, Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Branch), Mumbai, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection), Crime Branch, Mumbai, along with other officers.

In the wake of a BMC probe uncovering irregularities in over 87,000 birth and death records, Mumbai BJP president MLA Ameet Satam has demanded the immediate suspension of the officials involved and the registration of FIRs against them.

Last week, a shocking probe by the BMC Health Department exposed a massive racket in Mumbai’s civic system, with 87,347 bogus birth certificates allegedly issued to Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingya residents, pointing to deep-rooted manipulation of official records.

Pune: The horrific sexual assault and murder of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl in Nasrapur, Pune district, has triggered widespread outrage across Maharashtra, with growing demands for swift and severe punishment for the accused.

Amid this backdrop, Raj Thackeray, chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, delivered a strongly worded response on Facebook on Tuesday, calling for the harshest possible action against the perpetrator — even suggesting that punishment should not be constrained by legal considerations.

Thackeray questioned the government’s repeated assurances of “fast-track” action, asking what the term truly means in practice. He criticised what he described as a reactive approach, where authorities act only after such tragic incidents occur.

According to him, crimes involving abduction and exploitation of women and girls have been rising consistently in Maharashtra, indicating a diminishing fear of law and consequences.

He also raised concerns over reports of police action against protesters in Nasrapur, asking why similar urgency is not shown in dealing with perpetrators of such heinous crimes. While acknowledging that the accused would eventually be punished, he stressed the need to examine why such incidents continue to recur.

Expanding his critique, Thackeray argued that Maharashtra is facing a deeper societal crisis. He said the state, historically known for pioneering women’s education and social reform, is now witnessing a breakdown in accountability and values. He attributed this to what he termed a growing obsession with power across all sections of society, from politics and business to cultural institutions.

According to him, this “power at any cost” mindset has eroded traditional checks and balances. Earlier, he said, social and moral accountability ensured restraint through elders, community pressure, or fear of public shame. That framework, he claimed, has weakened significantly, leading to a situation where individuals no longer fear consequences.

Thackeray also pointed to broader cultural and economic shifts. He argued that rapid changes brought by post-1990s liberalisation, combined with the influence of digital media, unchecked consumerism, and exposure to certain types of content, have disrupted the social fabric. In his view, while liberalisation brought opportunities, society failed to adapt its value systems accordingly.

He concluded by urging a comprehensive, long-term response rather than short-term outrage. Emphasising that his party is part of the same society, Thackeray said he would push for corrective measures to restore what he described as Maharashtra’s lost “focus” and “direction” and called on the government to act decisively to prevent such crimes in the future.