Mumbai: The Crime Branch Unit 6, Chembur, has busted a fake job racket and arrested the alleged mastermind. Police have appealed to citizens to immediately contact them if they have been cheated with fake job appointment letters by the accused in the ongoing case.

According to the police, an FIR has been registered under Sections 318(4), 316(2), 204, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (cheating with impersonation as a police officer) at RCF Police Station.

The complainant, a vegetable vendor residing at Mahul MHADA Colony, Chembur, alleged that the accused duped her by promising a government job for her husband in the Income Tax Department.

The accused have been identified as, Vishal Arun Kamble (35) posed as a fake police officer, Sahil Nitin Gaikwad (20) acted as the mediator, Prakash Dinkar Bhalerao (40) the alleged mastermind who created fake documents and appointment letters.

Police sources said Vishal Kamble introduced himself as a police officer and gained the trust of the complainant. He then assured her that her husband would be given a job in the Income Tax Department. Over time, the complainant paid him a total of ₹8 lakh. Neither was her husband employed, nor was the money returned.

During investigation, it was revealed that accused Prakash Bhalerao was the mastermind, preparing fake documents and appointment letters for circulation. Acting on a tip-off, API Dhutraj and his team (ASI Desai, PC Bodhare, HCD Dhale) conducted technical surveillance on Bhalerao’s phone and, with the help of an informant, apprehended him at Suman Nagar, Chunabhatti.

Police confirmed Bhalerao’s involvement in the scam and placed him under arrest. He has been produced before the court for remand. The Crime Branch has appealed to the public to come forward if they have received fake appointment letters from the accused.

Mumbai: The Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Mumbai Crime Branch on Friday recreated the crime scene in the sensational INSAS rifle theft case at Navy Nagar, Colaba. The exercise, which lasted for about an hour, began around 6 pm, with both arrested accused — Rakesh Dubulla (20) and his elder brother Umesh Dubulla (25) — present at the spot.

According to investigators, the duo allegedly stole the rifle with the motive of creating terror in the forests of Asifabad, Telangana, using high-tech weaponry. Police suspect the brothers also intended to expand their extortion activities in the region.

Rakesh, an Agniveer jawan posted at INS Kochi, had earlier served at INS Garuda in Mumbai in February 2024, giving him prior knowledge of Navy Nagar’s internal setup. His brother Umesh, police revealed, is allegedly involved in illicit liquor trade and extortion rackets in Telangana. Mumbai Police have sought details of Umesh’s criminal record from the Telangana Police. Investigators believe the brothers were planning to establish dominance in forest areas through rackets involving teakwood, tendu leaves, ayurvedic herbs, and liquor smuggling.

On September 6, Umesh allegedly entered Navy Nagar impersonating a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) member. He approached a 20-year-old jawan on radar protection duty at AP Towers and convinced him to hand over his rifle along with two loaded magazines and one empty magazine. The jawan later realised he had been duped, and the weapon was missing.

Police said Rakesh tossed the rifle over the compound wall to Umesh, after which the two fled to Telangana via train from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus. The stolen rifle and magazines were later recovered from a forest area near their home in Asifabad, where they had been hidden in bushes.

Mumbai: Mumbai Airport Customs officials made a seizure of 24 Kt Gold, foreign currency and diamond studded ornaments across two cases, agency sources said on Friday.

According to the Customs sources, 24 Kt Gold pieces having weight of 0.689 Kg valued at Rs 66.43 lakh was recovered from a passenger arriving from Dubai to Mumbai.

“The gold was found concealed inside the body cavity of the passenger. The passenger was arrested under the provisions of Customs Act,” said a Customs source.

The agency is probing who had provided gold to the passenger and who was supposed to receive the said consignment in Mumbai, officials said.

In another case, foreign currency equivalent to Indian Rs 35.92 lakh and 24 Kt Gold Ring (01) & Earrings (02) studded with natural diamonds valued at Rs 1.30 lakh was recovered from a passenger going to Bangkok from Mumbai.

The goods were found concealed inside the trolley bag carried by the passenger.