Mumbai: Azad Maidan Police have arrested a 39-year-old accused within 24 hours for allegedly robbing an Uber driver at knifepoint in broad daylight near Crawford Market in South Mumbai.

The accused has been identified as Sahil Asgar Patel (39), a clothes hawker residing at Tripti Apartment, Room No. 01, Ansari Chowk, Kalyan (West), Thane. He reportedly sells garments outside Kalyan railway station.

According to police, on April 16 at around 3:45 pm, Patel had come to purchase clothes at Crawford Market. He booked an Uber cab from outside CSMT railway station and reached the market.

After asking the driver to wait for about 15 minutes, he returned to the vehicle and allegedly threatened the driver, Ankit Fofalia (33), with a knife placed on his neck.

Under threat, the accused forced the driver to hand over Rs 18,000 in cash, a gold ring weighing around 5 grams, and also coerced him into transferring Rs 4,000 online via PhonePe.

The accused then fled the spot. A frightened driver later approached Azad Maidan Police Station and lodged a complaint, following which a case was registered under Section 309(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Police have recovered property, including Rs 2,400 cash, one used Redmi mobile phone worth approximately Rs 15,000, one used goggle worth Rs 100, and clothes worn during the crime (shirt and jeans).

Acting swiftly, under the guidance of senior officers including DCP Zone 1 Dr Pravin Mundhe, ACP Tanveer Sheikh, Senior PI Shrikant Adate, and PI Crime Amrit Pawar, a detection team led by API Liladhar Patil and API Rohit Kalubarme examined CCTV footage from the area.

The footage helped identify the suspect, who was later traced to Kalyan. A police team rushed to Ansari Chowk, Kalyan (West), and apprehended him. During a search conducted in the presence of panch witnesses, police recovered part of the stolen cash and other incriminating material. The knife used in the crime was also seized.

The accused has multiple prior cases registered against him, including cheating, theft, assault, and other offences across police stations in Karad, Palghar, and Kalyan. Further probe is underway to recover the remaining stolen property and ascertain if the accused is involved in similar offences.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday warned that it may order the closure of the Kanjurmarg dumping ground if authorities fail to show immediate and concrete improvement in managing pollution and emissions at the site.

A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe expressed strong dissatisfaction with the “casual” approach of the State government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), observing that the issue directly impacts public health and cannot be ignored.

“We will pass a detailed order… there would be no alternative but to stop this dumping site,” the court cautioned, adding that “it is high time that we value human lives.”

The bench was hearing a batch of petitions, including a public interest litigation filed by Vanashakti and a local housing society, highlighting persistent foul odour, gas emissions and health risks for residents.

Referring to scientific reports, the court flagged concerns over methane emissions from the site, noting that the gas is significantly more harmful than carbon dioxide. “We don’t know the ill effects of such emissions caused due to mismanagement by the authorities,” the bench remarked, directing authorities to study available research and adopt scientific mitigation measures.

The court also questioned delays in implementing recommendations, including proposed study visits to countries such as Japan, Singapore and the UAE to examine advanced waste management systems. While the State said such visits could be undertaken, the bench stressed that immediate local action was essential.

Calling it the “worst dumping ground,” the court said decades of temporary measures had failed to yield results. It warned that if violations of the right to life under Article 21 are established, strict action would follow.

As a last opportunity, the court directed the State and civic authorities to file detailed affidavits outlining steps to curb pollution and monitor methane emissions. The matter will be heard next on Monday.

Mumbai, Gold and silver prices started the session on a weaker note on Friday, with both precious metals declining by nearly 1 per cent in early trade on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX).

Gold futures for June 5 opened 0.39 per cent or Rs 594 lower at Rs 1,51,167 per 10 grams compared to the previous close of Rs 1,51,761.

Later, the yellow metal touched an intra-day low of Rs 1,50,750, down 0.66 per cent or Rs 1,011. At the last count, it was trading at Rs 1,51,449, a decrease of Rs 312 or 0.21 per cent. During the session so far, gold has touched an intra-day high of Rs 1,51,457.

On the other hand, silver futures for May 5 declined as much as 0.95 per cent or Rs 2,313 to Rs 2,39,200, an intraday low. The white metal was trading at Rs 2,41,345, down Rs 168 or 0.07 per cent. It recorded an intraday high of Rs 2,41,382, down 0.05 per cent or Rs 131.

In the international market, precious metals also witnessed selling pressure. COMEX gold was down nearly 1 per cent at $4,684 per ounce, while COMEX silver also slipped around 1 per cent to $74.81 per ounce.

According to commodity analysts, gold and silver prices are under pressure due to a stronger US dollar, rising bond yields, and uncertainty over geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

They further said that crude oil moving back above $100 per barrel has raised inflation concerns, adding to pressure on precious metals.

Moreover, Brent crude was trading at more than $100 per barrel or 2 per cent higher.

Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty also traded up to 1 per cent lower in early trade on Friday.