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‘Solanki and Khatri were close friends,’ claim IIT Bombay batchmates as Mumbai Police arrests student in suicide case

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Darshan’s father says a single boy cannot be the only reason behind his son’s demise.

Nearly two months after Darshan Solanki, a Dalit student of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay allegedly died by suicide, the Mumbai Police has arrested a fellow student identified as Armaan Iqbal Khatri on charges of abetment to suicide.

Arman Iqbal Khatri, an 18-year-old boy from Vile Parle, was named in the suicide note SIT had found inside the hostel room of the deceased student on March 26. In the suicide note, Darshan blamed Khatri for driving him to his death.

Though the probe is still on, IIT-B students who knew Arman recognise the latter as incapable of a crime.

According to some of Armaan’s batch mates, Arman and Darshan had become good friends, though Arman generally was a quiet student.“They both were close and Armaan knew that Darshan was going through depression due to his low grades,  in fact, Darshan took the drastic step, Arman was most affected,” said a friend of Aarman who did not wish to be named.

Darshan’s father Mr Ramesh Solanki had spoken to the mumbaipress earlier that SIT’s claim about Darshan having fought with Arman for three days, on 9, 10, and 11 February after which  Darshan met an unfortunate demise on February 12 cannot be the sole reason for the tragedy. “We have not been told anything about the reason behind this fight, but the SIT stated that Armaan threatened Darshan with a cutter in the hostel room. I believe that a single boy cannot be the only reason behind Darshan’s demise. This goes much deeper,” Mr. Ramesh told this newspaper today.

However, the claim about the knife is not entirely true, said the friends. “Apart from having silly fights common between friends, it never got serious and Aarman never pointed a knife at him.”

On February 12, 2023, Darshan was reported to have jumped from the seventh floor of his hostel building at IIT-B and his body was found by the security guards who saw him in a pool of blood. Darshan from Ahmedabadwas a first-year student of the B.Tech course.

Initially, after the incident, the Powai police station registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR). However, after the suicide note was found, a new direction was given to the investigation.

The Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC) of IIT-Bombay was the first to raise the issue of Darshan’s death as a case of caste discrimination and called it “institutional murder” – a charge which was denied by the institute.

Crime

Dawood Ibrahim Got Call From Mumbai Cop Seeking Money For Daughter’s Wedding; Ex-DGP Sivanandhan Breaks Silence

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Mumbai: In an intense conversation with Former Mumbai Police Commissioner and ex-DGP of Maharashtra D. Sivanandhan, Media Journalist Balakrishnan spoke about the nexus between some policemen and the underworld.

In a startling revelation, the Media journalist revealed that during his visit to Dubai some years back, he went to Dawood Ibrahim’s patatial house called the ‘White house’, where the underworld don had received a phone call from Assistant Mumbai Commissioner allegedly seeking money for the gangster’s daughter’s wedding.

In an exclusive conversation, Media Balakrishnan said, “While I was talking to him, his PA came and told him that there is a call for you.”

The journalist said that Dawood winked and told him to keep quiet. While listening to their conversation on speaker, Media journalist heard, “Sir apka beti ka shadi toh apka yaad aya meko.”

Dawood responded by asking, “Kitna Chahye?”

On this, the Assistant Police Commissioner replied saying, “Jo apko lage, Apka beti ka shaadi hai.” Dawood then reportedly sent him Rs 10 lakh.

Speaking on the issue, Sivanandhan explained that not every officer in Maharashtra’s 2.5 lakh with 50000 in Mumbai is corrupt, but since they are recruited from society, some do fall into its darker influences.”We recruit them from the society, and the society comes along with all black, yellow, green colours.”

The conversation came in context about the nexus between some policemen and the underworld.

When ex-DGP of Maharashtra D. Sivanandhan was asked about the nexus between some policemen and the underworld, so much so that people used to talk about gang war within the police. On this, the ex-top cop defended, saying, “Tell me, from where do the policemen come? They come from the same society where the criminals are also coming.”

Further explaining, he also revealed, “In many of the cases where some shootout took place and when we went to raid the criminal’s house, we use to see a police uniform hanging. When we ask, the policeman’s sister was married to the gangster.”

“It’s a society where they live very, very closely,” the top cop confirmed. In another revelation, without sharing the identity, he also added, “There are also policemen working in gangs now.”

He added that, “So when policemen are accused of participating on behalf of some gang or other, I would wouldn’t deny that. I would agree. He added that the irresistable amount of money given to the gangster is unbelievable. Policemen are succumbing to that.”

The cop further raised questions on the government and said, “What was the guarantee or what was the support given by the government for policemen to insulate themselves from such kind of irresistable offers.” “When the policemen is prosecuted, not even a lawyer is given to them,” the ex-DGP said.

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Crime

Mumbai Airport Customs Seize Drugs Worth ₹12.5 Crore, iPhones, Laptops And Liquor In Separate Cases; 6 Arrested

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Mumbai: In four separate operations, the Airport Customs officials during the period of October till October 28, have seized drugs collectively worth Rs 12.50 crores and iPhones, laptops, liquor bottles and cigarettes totally worth Rs 56 lakh.

According to the agency sources, on the basis of specific intelligence, the Customs officers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), intercepted three passengers arriving from Bangkok to Mumbai.

During the examination of the baggage, the Customs officers recovered 6.48 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana), with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 6.48 crores.

In another case, on the basis of specific information, the Customs officers intercepted two passengers arriving from Bangkok. During the examination of the baggage, the Customs officers recovered 3.98 kg of marijuana valued at Rs 3.98 crores.

In the third such case, on the basis of specific intelligence, the Customs officers intercepted one passenger arriving from Bangkok. During the examination of the baggage, the Customs officers recovered 1.94 kg marijuana, with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 1.94 crores.

In all the three cases, the narcotic substances were concealed inside the checked-in trolley bag carried by the six passengers, who were arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

In the fourth case, on the basis of profiling, the Customs officers at the airport intercepted three passengers arriving from Sharjah to Mumbai. During the examination of the baggage, the Customs officers recovered Apple Iphones 17 pro max (40 pieces), laptops (30 pieces), liquor bottles (12) and cigarettes collectively valued at Rs 56.55 lakh.

The said goods were concealed inside the checked-in trolley bag carried by the passengers, who were arrested under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962.

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Crime

Powai Hostage Case: Mumbai Police Detain Rohit Arya After He Holds 15–20 Children Hostage; All Safely Rescued

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Mumbai: A tense situation unfolded at RA Studios in Mumbai’s Powai on Thursday after reports that several children attending acting classes on the first floor had been taken hostage. Parents gathered frantically outside the studio as some children were seen looking out of windows in visible distress.

Police teams rushed to the scene after receiving the alert and cordoned off the area. A high alert was declared while officers worked to identify the suspect and determine his motive. The accused, identified as Rohit Arya, has been detained, and the children were later released unharmed, police said.

Authorities said Arya posted a video in which he made threats and set out his demands, and portions of that recording were circulated on social media. In the video he said, “I am Rohit Arya. Instead of committing suicide, I have made a plan and have kept some kids here. I don’t have much demands. I have very simple demands. I have very moral demands and very ethical demands. And I have some questions. I have to talk to some people. I have to ask them questions. If I have a counter-question on their answer, then I have to ask a counter-question. But I want this answer. ” He stated in the confession video that is going viral on social media.

“I don’t want anything else. Neither am I a terrorist, nor do I have a great demand for money. There is no demand for money. So, it is not immoral at all. I have to have simple conversations. And for that, I have taken these kids as a hostage. I have taken them as a hostage according to a plan. Let’s change format. I was really going to do it. I am going to do it. If I am alive, I will do it. If I die, someone else will do it. But it will definitely happen. It will happen with these kids only if they are not harmed. Because the slightest wrong move from your end will trigger me,” Arya stated in confession video.

Mumbai Police officials said the detained man is being questioned and that investigators are verifying the video and tracing any accomplices or underlying motives. Police sources confirmed that no injuries were reported among the children or staff.

Parents at the scene described a harrowing wait until authorities secured the premises and confirmed the children’s safety. The local police have appealed to the public not to share unverified footage that could hamper the investigation. Further details are expected as the probe progresses.

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