Navi Mumbai: The Crime Investigation Department (CID) arrested two Navi Mumbai-based men for allegedly supplying chemicals used in the manufacture of spurious liquor linked to the Pune hooch tragedy that claimed 22 lives in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The accused have been identified as Arun Jagdamba Chaube (59) and his son Abhishek Arun Chaube (24), both residents of Vashi in Navi Mumbai. The duo was apprehended by a CID special team following revelations during the ongoing investigation into the deadly liquor racket, as reported by Loksatta.

According to officials, cops found that the father-son duo had allegedly supplied hazardous chemicals used in the preparation of the toxic liquor consumed by the victims. After tracking their role in the supply chain, CID officers arrested them from Navi Mumbai and produced them before a magistrate’s court in Pimpri. The court remanded both accused to four days of police custody to facilitate further investigation into the source and distribution network of the chemicals.

The arrests come days after authorities detained the alleged kingpin of the racket, Yogesh Wankhede, along with several associates. Following the deaths of over 20 people, the Maharashtra government transferred the probe to the CID to uncover the full extent of the illicit liquor network.

Meanwhile, rattled by the scale of the tragedy, the Maharashtra State Excise Department has launched a statewide crackdown on illicit liquor manufacturing and distribution. State Excise Commissioner Rajesh Deshmukh said the department conducted 440 raids across Maharashtra over the past few days, leading to the arrest of 333 persons allegedly involved in the production and sale of illegal liquor.

During the operation, officials seized 1.61 lakh litres of chemicals used in manufacturing illicit liquor, 9,686 litres of spurious liquor and five vehicles. The total value of the seized material has been estimated at Rs 83.24 lakh.

Mumbai: In a shocking incident, a 38-year-old man was allegedly attacked and stabbed to death in the Mankhurd area by three men.

the deceased, identified as Vilas Hiwale, was attacked after he reportedly shone a torch at a group of people sitting in the dark. The accused have been identified as Rajesh Londhe, Siddharth Londhe, and Sagar Kapsikar.

Vilas was taken to Sion Hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Mankhurd Police have registered a murder case and launched a search for the three accused, who are currently absconding. Police said the accused have a criminal history, and further investigation is underway. Currently, it is unclear whether shining a torch was the actual cause of the stabbing or whether an altercation that followed led to the death of the 38-year-old man.

Meanwhile, in another shocking incidents, the body of the four-year-old boy was discovered in an open drain in the Neelkamal Naka area. Though it was assumed to be a case of accidental drowning, during the initial spot assessment, the police noticed suspicious elements, prompting them to change the direction of their investigation. However, it was found that the toddler’s mother’s paramour murdered the child and threw his body into a drain to stage it as an accident.

In Mira Bhayandar, a boy was found murdered inside the lavatory of Shanti Shopping Centre in Mira Road, with the body reportedly discovered in a mutilated condition. According to information from media, the body was found inside the bathroom of the commercial complex, after which the police were alerted. In Powai, a four-year-old boy was allegedly killed by his father for repeatedly crying for milk. The Powai police arrested the accused, identified as Rajesh Singh (26), on charges of murder.

Mumbai: In a breakthrough, a 44-year-old man was arrested days after molesting a 17-year-old girl inside a Metro lift at Dhanukarwadi Station in Kandivali.

The accused, identified as Doni Sarkar, had fled the city following the incident. He was caught by the team of Kandivali Police from the Gitanjali Express, which was heading to West Bengal’s Howrah Junction.

the accused was nabbed when the train halted at the Raipur Junction in Chhattisgarh, who was reportedly fleeing to his hometown in West Bengal.

The incident took place on May 29 at around 11.50 am, when the girl was allegedly molested inside a lift at the Dahanukarwadi Metro station on the Yellow Line. According to an HT report, the accused was already present inside the lift, and after seeing the girl entering the lift alone, he allegedly molested her as the doors shut by touching her inappropriately.

Terrified by the incident, the girl had first approached the metro staff for help and then later approached the police station, after which a case was registered.

The incident was also confirmed by the Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL) officials, who assured to provide all possible help to the police in the case. Additionally, the officials had also handed the CCTV footage to the police.

Meanwhile, in another recent case, a case under POSCO has been registered against a 40-year-old man who has been allegedly accused of showing pornographic films and molesting a 13-year-old boy in Mumbai’s Agripada area. The shocking incident took place at the Classic Tower residential society located in the Agripada locality. The matter came to light after the traumatised minor confided in his family members about the ordeal, and a case was registered.

Earlier in May, a case of alleged molestation was registered against a BMC officer after a woman employee accused him of misbehaving with her inside the civic body headquarters.