New Delhi, July 27: Delhi Police on Monday arrested an active snatcher within hours of a mobile phone snatching incident in the Madhu Vihar area. With the arrest of accused, police claimed to have cracked four criminal cases, recovering a snatched mobile phone, a scooty used in the commission of the offence, and two additional stolen mobile phones linked to separate theft cases.

The accused has been identified as Upender alias Piyush (22), a resident of West Vinod Nagar, Delhi. Police said swift action based on credible secret information led to his arrest, while efforts are continuing to trace and apprehend his absconding associate.

According to Delhi Police, the incident came to light on July 25 after a PCR call regarding the snatching of a mobile phone was received at Police Station Madhu Vihar. The inquiry was assigned to Sub-Inspector Mahipal Singh.

During the investigation, complainant Ayush Das informed the police that at around 12 noon, while travelling towards Ghazipur, he was passing the DCP Cut near Utsav Ground in IP Extension when two unidentified men riding a blue scooty approached him. The pillion rider allegedly snatched his blue mobile phone before the duo fled towards the East District DCP Office.

Based on the complainant’s statement, FIR No. 293/2026 was registered at Police Station Madhu Vihar under Sections 304(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was launched.

The police team began an intensive search operation, analysed available leads and developed credible intelligence regarding the accused’s movements. Acting on the secret information, the police laid a trap near Utsav Ground, IP Extension, at around 9.20 p.m. on the same day and successfully apprehended Upender.

During his arrest, police recovered the snatched mobile phone belonging to the complainant. The blue scooty allegedly used in the crime was also seized. Verification through the vehicle’s chassis number revealed that it had been reported stolen in e-FIR No. 17144/2026 registered at Police Station Pandav Nagar.

A further search of the scooter led to the recovery of two additional stolen mobile phones — a handset and another phone. Police said these devices were linked to separate e-FIRs, numbered 80115470/2025 and 80011811/2026, registered at Police Station PIA.

With these recoveries, Delhi Police said it had successfully solved four criminal cases, including the present mobile phone snatching case.

During sustained interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that he had committed the snatching along with an associate. Acting on his disclosure, police conducted a raid at the co-accused’s residence. However, he was found absconding. Police said continuous efforts are underway to trace and arrest him.

The accused has been formally arrested, and all recovered property has been seized in accordance with legal procedures. He is being produced before the competent court, while further investigation is underway.

During questioning, the accused also disclosed that he had become addicted to drugs and had started committing property-related offences to finance his addiction.

Mumbai, July 27: Mumbai Police arrested a 36-year-old Bangladeshi national at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for allegedly travelling on a fraudulently obtained Indian passport.

The accused has been identified as Babu Biswas, alias Tapas Biswas. Immigration officials grew suspicious of his Indian passport after noticing that his accent closely resembled the dialect commonly spoken in Bangladesh.

According to the police, Biswas had illegally entered India through the West Bengal border along with his wife and family in 2016. He lived in the Nadia district of West Bengal and worked as a daily-wage labourer in Kolkata for nearly seven years.

Police said that after settling in India, the accused managed to obtain Indian identity documents, including an Aadhaar card and a PAN card. Using these documents, he allegedly secured an Indian passport from the Kolkata Passport Office in 2019. Investigators said he later used the passport to travel abroad, visiting the Maldives twice in 2023 and Colombo at least once without raising suspicion.

A police officer said the investigation is now focussed on identifying the agents who allegedly helped him procure forged Indian identity documents and the passport.

The accused was intercepted after arriving at Mumbai airport from Colombo. He approached the immigration counter to complete the mandatory immigration formalities and presented his Indian passport along with his boarding pass.

An Assistant Immigration Officer, who was on duty at Counter No. 23, said the passenger arrived in Mumbai on Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL141 at around 3.30 a.m.

“While examining the Indian passport, I suspected that the passenger was from Bangladesh. I asked him a few questions, but he failed to provide satisfactory answers,” the officer said.

Following the initial interrogation, the passenger was produced before the officer incharge of the Immigration Wing and other duty officers for detailed questioning. During the enquiry, officials reportedly established that he hailed from Faridpur in Bangladesh.

Police said the suspicion was confirmed after Biswas contacted his wife in Bangladesh through WhatsApp and asked her to send documents establishing his identity. She subsequently sent photocopies of land ownership documents registered in Bangladesh in the name of Biswas’ father, confirming his Bangladeshi origin.

An official from Sahar Police Station said the accused admitted during questioning that he had entered India illegally with his family in 2016. He further confessed that while living in West Bengal, he had obtained an Aadhaar card and a PAN card with the help of a local resident before securing an Indian passport using those documents.

Police are now investigating the network that allegedly facilitated the preparation of forged identity documents and enabled his illegal stay and international travel.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Crime Branch recently announced that it has initiated the process of deporting 53 illegal Bangladeshi nationals who were apprehended during separate operations across the city. Further investigation into the case is underway.

New Delhi, July 26: The Anti Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of Delhi Police’s East District on Sunday arrested an interstate bootlegger and seized 1,600 quarter bottles of illicit liquor being smuggled from Haryana to Delhi. The Police also impounded a car used to transport the contraband.

According to Delhi Police, the accused has been identified as Anand alias Kallu, 31, a resident of Karkardooma Village. The operation led to the recovery of 32 cartons containing 1,600 quarter bottles of liquor, all bearing the label “For Sale in Haryana Only.”

Police said the seizure is part of its ongoing drive to curb the illegal transportation and sale of liquor in the national capital and dismantle interstate smuggling networks. A case has been registered under Sections 33 and 58 of the Delhi Excise Act at Laxmi Nagar Police Station.

The team, on July 23, received specific intelligence that a large consignment of illicit liquor was being transported from Sonipat, Haryana, to Delhi in a car. Acting swiftly on the input, the police laid a trap near Noida Link Road, Shakarpur Bus Stand.

At around 10.30 p.m., the suspected vehicle was spotted approaching the location. When police signalled the driver to stop, he allegedly attempted to flee by speeding away. However, the team intercepted the vehicle after a brief chase and apprehended the driver.

During the search, officers recovered 32 cartons containing 1,600 quarter bottles of liquor from the rear seat and boot of the car. The seized consignment included 23 cartons of Race 7 Metro Liquor (180 ml) and nine cartons of Falcon’s Santra Desi Sharab (180 ml), all marked “For Sale in Haryana Only.”

The car used for transporting the liquor was also seized.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted that he had been transporting illicit liquor from Haryana for illegal distribution in Delhi to earn quick money.

Police said Anand has a previous criminal record and was earlier booked in FIR No. 332/2013 under Sections 379, 411 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code at Anand Vihar Police Station.

Investigators are now working to identify the source of the liquor, its intended recipients and other members of the interstate smuggling network. Further investigation into the case is underway.