Mumbai: The Malad police on September 15 arrested a 34-year-old woman who had been wanted for the past four months in connection with a multi-crore overseas job fraud.

The accused, identified as Ekta Avinash Ayre, also known as Drishti or Manisha, allegedly set up a bogus company in a Malad shopping mall and cheated at least 38 unemployed men of around Rs 2 crore by promising them jobs abroad.

According to police officers, Ayre and her two absconding accomplices, Aman Kamlamiya Sheikh and Jigneshkumar Rathwa, opened an office in Malad and heavily advertised on social media, offering jobs in Gulf countries for positions such as kitchen staff, drivers, housekeeping staff, storekeepers and security guards in reputed hotels.

The gang posted fake positive reviews online and provided a link for applicants to register. Many job seekers from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune and other cities applied online or in person, submitting their passports along with fees for registration, visas, medical tests and other charges.

Within days, the victims received appointment letters and visas by email. However, after verification, the documents were found to be fake. When some of the victims rushed to the Malad office, they discovered that the company had been shut down and the accused had fled. Each candidate had reportedly paid between Rs 4.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. Following complaints from about 38 victims, the Malad police registered a case of cheating and embezzlement against the accused.

Senior Police Inspector Drushyant Chavan said he directed the crime team to track down the absconding suspects. During a special operation, Ayre was located and arrested. Interrogation revealed that some of the defrauded money had been transferred to her bank account, confirming her direct involvement in the crime.

Ayre had earlier applied for anticipatory bail in the sessions court, but her plea was rejected. She was produced before the Borivali magistrate court and remanded to judicial custody. The case was filed in May 2025. 

Mumbai: Mumbai woke up to light to moderate showers on Saturday morning. The city and its suburbs largely remained under a blanket of thick clouds, with intermittent drizzle adding to the damp weather. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature in the city is likely to settle around 30 degrees Celsius, while the minimum may hover near 24 degrees Celsius.

Through the day, skies are expected to remain generally cloudy, with showers intensifying slightly by evening. Coastal winds will continue to bring moisture-laden clouds into Mumbai and other parts of the Konkan belt, where moderate rainfall has also been predicted. Importantly, no rain alerts have been issued for any district, easing concerns of severe flooding or traffic disruptions that usually accompany heavy downpours in the region.

For the next few days, the IMD has forecast varied conditions for Mumbai and adjoining districts. On September 21 and 22, widespread moderate rainfall is expected under a generally cloudy sky. These two days may see consistent showers, keeping outdoor activities limited and adding to the waterlogging risks in low-lying areas. By September 23, however, the city may see a break in the wet spell with partly cloudy skies and occasional spells of rain or thundershowers. Sunshine may peek through at intervals, though short but intense bursts of rainfall are likely.

September 24 and 25 are expected to continue with a mix of conditions, partly cloudy skies, scattered showers, and the possibility of thunder in some pockets. While much of the day on these dates may stay dry, sudden and sharp showers could still disrupt daily routines.

The IMD has linked the current weather pattern to a trough forming along the Telangana–Vidarbha border, which has been intensifying rainfall across several regions of Maharashtra. On September 20, heavy to very heavy rains are predicted in many districts, prompting the weather department to issue a yellow alert for 20 districts across the state.

Navi Mumbai: The Crime Branch Unit-3 has arrested a jewellery store driver for allegedly staging a robbery and siphoning off gold ornaments and cash worth Rs 5.90 lakh in Panvel.

The accused, identified as Shailesh Dilip Kamble (38), an employee of B.B. Banthia Jewellers, had falsely claimed he was robbed by two unidentified men near Khanda Colony railway bridge on September 11.

Police said Kamble was assigned to collect jewellery and cash from the company’s offices in Khanda Colony and Kalamboli. Instead of delivering it, he allegedly hid the valuables inside the dickey of his electric TVS iQube scooter.

Later, he fabricated a story that two men on a Pulsar motorcycle, wearing helmets, had accosted him at knifepoint and snatched the ornaments and money. Based on his complaint, a case of armed robbery was registered at Khandeshwar Police Station.

A parallel investigation was carried out by Crime Branch Unit-3 under the supervision of ACP (Crime) Ajaykumar Landge and Senior PI Avinash Kaldat. During the probe led by API Pawan Nandre, PSI Abhaysingh Shinde, and their team, several discrepancies were found in Kamble’s statement.

No suspicious movement or persons were seen at the alleged crime spot, further raising doubts. On sustained interrogation, Kamble confessed to staging the robbery and handed over the jewellery hidden in his scooter.

“The accused tried to mislead police by staging a dramatic robbery, but his version was full of inconsistencies. He finally admitted to the crime and the entire amount has been recovered,” said ACP (Crime) Ajaykumar Landge. Police said Kamble has been arrested and further investigation is underway.