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Maharashtra

Navi Mumbai: Alert Bank Manager Saves 80-Year-Old Man From Losing ₹12 Lakh In ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam

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8 months ago

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Navi Mumbai: An alert manager of a bank in Koparkhairane saved an 80 year old man from losing Rs 12 lakh Fixed Deposit amount to scamsters. Surendrakumar Rastogi, a retired officer from Nuclear Power Corporation of India was one of the latest victims of ‘digital arrest’ that has been happening rampantly in the country.

Even as he lost Rs 21.94 lakh, another Rs 12 lakh were saved because of the presence of mind of Lakshman Dhamale (55), Manager of Unity Small Finances Bank Ltd at sector 6 in Koparkhairane.

On November 13, Rastogi has received a call claiming to be from RBI which informed him that his pension was being blocked and he an arrest warrant has been issued against him. But since he is a senior citizen, he would get a chance to not get arrested and soon CBI will call him. He then got a whatsapp video call from one inspector S Lakshman from Hyderabad who claimed that they had proof that Rastogi was involved in Naresh Goyal scam.

He further claimed that Goyal was linked with Hizbul Mujahiddin terrorist organization and Rs 2 crore transaction was done in the name of Rastogi at Hyderabad for which a commission of Rs 20 lakh was provided to Rastogi. The caller further claimed that a case has been filed in Hyderabad against him.

“The caller then asked Rastogi the details of his investments and fixed deposits. The caller then told him that he will have to make few transactions in various accounts as they say and once he is proved innocent, all the money would be refunded,” senior police inspector Audumber Patil from Koparkhairane police station said.

The caller had also told him that he cannot disconnect the video call till all the procedures are over. Believing that he was under ‘house arrest’, Rastogi approached the banks to break his fixed deposits and transfer the amount to various bank accounts.

He started approaching various banks from November 14 and transferred a total of Rs 21.94 lakh to the scamsters. But when he reached Unity Small Finances Bank, the manager felt something amiss.

“We had informed banks that they should be cautious when a senior citizen approaches them with a request to break their FD and transfer a huge amount to someone,” Patil said.

Dhamale asked Rastogi the reason for breaking the FD and transferring Rs 12 lakh. “Rastogi was getting irritated with my questions. He claimed that it was for medical purpose and he was transferring to one Royal enterprises. The claims were mismatched. I told him that the server is down and he will transfer the amount in half an hour. The account to which the amount was to be transferred was at Yes bank and hence I wet to Yes bank to confirm the account details and I found that the account had a transaction of around Rs 3 crore in two days which was withdrawn as well. The account was reported to cyber cell and it was frozen by then,” Dhamale said.

Dhamale immediately called Rastogi to alert him and asked him to meet him but he didn’t turn up to ban and instead went to other banks and transferred around Rs 6 lakh to other accounts. Even after a day since Rastogi did not go to meet Dhamae, Dhamale approached Koparkhairane police.

“I informed the police and the police aling with me and a bank staff went to the residence of RAstogi. He was hesitant to talk as the video call was still active and he believed that he and his family was under surveillance. With a lot of coaxing, he heard us and we managed to make him believe that it is a scam,” Dhamale added.

“Being a senior citizen who was under the stress that he was under ‘house arrest’, we went to his residence in plain clothes. We showed him our police jeep outside and it took a lot to talking with hi to finally make him understand what actually happened was a scam,” police sub inspector Gajanan Takle from Koparhairane police station said. The police are now working of the leads of the case and are travelling to Uttarakhand to trace the accused.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Ola, Uber Strike To Resume On Wednesday Noon As Cab Drivers’ Demands Remain Unaddressed

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60 mins ago

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July 22, 2025

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Mumbai: The Ola and Uber driver strike in Mumbai, suspended until Tuesday, is set to resume on Wednesday if the Maharashtra government fails to address their demands.

The strike was initially called off on Saturday, allowing the government to respond to issues like fare rationalisation, the establishment of a welfare board for drivers, and restrictions on new permits. The Maharashtra Gig Kamgar Manch confirmed that the strike is merely suspended and will restart if demands remain unmet.

Key driver demands include:

Drivers advocate for fare alignment with traditional taxis.

A financial and legal support board for app-based cab drivers is requested.

There’s a push to limit new cab and auto-rickshaw permit issuance.

Protections under the Maharashtra Gig Workers’ Act for taxi workers are sought.

A review of aggregator platform operations regarding surge pricing and driver ID blocking is desired.

If unresolved by the deadline, drivers plan an escalated protest on Wednesday. According to a report, passengers have been asked to de-board in various locations across Mumbai due to the impending strike. A cab driver from Navi Mumbai highlighted their demand for a fixed rate per kilometre, contrasting current inconsistent rates with a previously established government-fixed rate of Rs 32 per km for AC taxis.

Cab unions have discussed these concerns with Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who has promised a solution within 15 days. Nevertheless, drivers remain skeptical, recalling previous unfulfilled promises. Sarnaik acknowledged the reasonableness of the demands and assured adjustments in policy would be made.

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Maharashtra

2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Case: Maharashtra Govt Moves SC Challenging HC Verdict Acquitting 12 Accused

Published

3 hours ago

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July 22, 2025

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The Maharashtra government has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court’s recent decision to acquit all 12 individuals previously convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case. The High Court, in a detailed judgment, overturned the 2015 convictions handed down by a special MCOCA court, which had sentenced five of the accused to death and seven to life imprisonment.

Citing serious lapses in the prosecution’s case—including unreliable witness testimonies, questionable identification procedures, and lack of forensic evidence—the court stated that the guilt of the accused was not proven beyond reasonable doubt. In response, the state government has filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court, arguing that the acquittal undermines efforts to combat terrorism and seeking to have the convictions reinstated.

The case, which stems from coordinated bombings on Mumbai’s suburban rail network that killed over 180 people and injured more than 700, is now poised for further legal scrutiny at the national level.

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Crime

Mumbai Airport Customs Seize 7.318 Kg Of Hydroponic Weed & 99 Bottles Of Codeine Syrup Across 4 Cases

Published

4 hours ago

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July 22, 2025

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Mumbai: During the period 15th-20th July, the officers at Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs, Zone-III, made a remarkable seizure of suspected NDPS (hydroponic weed) weighing 7.318 kg and 99 bottles of 100ml each cough syrup containing codeine phosphate across 04 cases. 04 persons were Arrested. 

Highlights of the case: 

(14/15.07.2025) 

Case 1. On the basis of profiling, Customs officers at CSMI Airport , Mumbai Customs, Zone – III intercepted 01 passenger arriving from Bangkok to Mumbai and recovered 610 grams of hydroponic weed. The smuggled goods were concealed inside the trolley bag carried by the passenger. 01 passenger was arrested under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

(15/16.07.2025) 

Case 2. On the basis of profiling, Customs officers at CSMI Airport, Mumbai Customs Zone -III intercepted 01 passenger arriving from Bangkok to Mumbai and Recovered 5256 grams of hydroponic weed. The smuggled goods were concealed inside the check-in baggage carried by the passenger. 01 passenger was arrested under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

(16/17.07.2025) 

Case 3. On the basis of Specific Intel, Customs officers at CSMI Airport, Mumbai Customs Zone -III intercepted 01 passenger arriving from Bangkok to Mumbai and Recovered 1452 grams of hydroponic weed. The smuggled goods were concealed inside the trolley bag carried by the passenger. 01 passenger was arrested under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

(19/20.07.2025) 

Case 4. On the basis of information received, Customs officers at CSMI Airport, Mumbai Customs Zone -III intercepted 01 passenger departing from Mumbai to Riyadh and recovered 99 bottles of cough syrup containing codeine phosphate as its constituent. The smuggled goods were concealed inside the check-in baggage carried by the passenger. 01 passenger was arrested under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

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