Navi Mumbai: The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) has arrested a 30-year-old man for allegedly running a sex racket using mobile phones to share photographs of women with potential clients and arranging their services. Two women were rescued during the operation, which took place near a hotel in the APMC area of Navi Mumbai.

The arrested accused, identified as Rahul Lakhmeshwar Mahto, was caught red-handed on the night of August 4 after he arrived in a taxi near Hotel Fantasy Residency in Sector 19C, APMC, with two women. He had allegedly arranged a deal with a decoy customer and accepted Rs 4,000 in cash for sexual services. Once the transaction was completed, the decoy gave the pre-decided signal, following which the AHTC team conducted a raid and apprehended Mahto.

According to police officials, Mahto was part of an online prostitution racket operating across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The AHTC had earlier received intelligence about the gang’s activities and accordingly laid a trap under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Prithviraj Ghorpade. The team, including API Yogesh Deshmukh and Police Constable Anil Mandoḷe, posed as customers to initiate the bust.

Investigations revealed that the two rescued women had been sent for prostitution by two other agents, identified as Kamesh and Kurban Ansari, who are currently absconding.

“We have registered a case under relevant sections of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act at the APMC Police Station. We are continuing efforts to locate and apprehend the remaining members of the trafficking network,” a police officer from AHTU said.

Mumbai: A startling detail has emerged in the investigation of the Rs434 crore drug lab busted in Mysuru, Karnataka—the accused allegedly used a coded method involving shirt photos to facilitate the transport of MD drugs to Mumbai. The Sakinaka police revealed that the operation was divided between two independent groups: one focused on manufacturing the drugs and the other handling distribution. In a calculated move to ensure anonymity and minimise risk, members of each group were kept unaware of their counterparts’ identities.

The contraband was distributed across various locations using a network of street-level dealers. The entire transportation route operated on the ground—no air or rail travel was involved. This ensured lower surveillance risks and easier movement across states.

A police officer stated, “When an individual went to collect the drugs, he did not share his contact number or name. A middleman sent the drug collector’s shirt photo to the manufacturer. The drug collector and manufacturer never exchanged names or contact details. The delivery was made solely based on the shirt photo.”

According to the police, once the MD (Mephedrone) drugs were produced at the Mysuru unit, a courier from there would travel by bus to Bengaluru. Simultaneously, a member of the Mumbai syndicate would also arrive in Bengaluru. To confirm identity, the Mumbai operative would send a photo of his shirt via WhatsApp. The courier, after matching the shirt pattern, would transfer the consignment. The Mumbai gang member would then return to the city with the narcotics—again by road.

The police suspect that this busted lab is part of a much broader international network, possibly linked to organised crime syndicates. As the investigation widens, authorities believe further arrests and connections may emerge in the coming days.

Darbhanga: A shocking incident surfaced from Bihar’s Darbhanga, where a man allegedly shot dead his son-in-law in front of his daughter. The deceased has been identified as Rahul Kumar, a 25-year-old second-year student of BSc (Nursing) at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital.

The accused, Premshankar Jha, opened fire at Kumar in front of his newlywedded wife, Tannu Priya. Jha was upset due to Priya’s intercaste marriage with Kumar. The victim was rushed to a hospital. However, he could not survive.

Priya is a first-year nursing student. She got married to Kumar four months ago. They reportedly stayed on different floors in the same hostel building. The woman notices that a person wearing a hoodie approached her husband on Tuesday evening.

“He had a gun. It was my father, Premshankar Jha. He shot my husband in the chest, in front of my eyes. My husband fell into my lap,” she said as quoted by the media house. The woman alleged that her whole family was part of the conspiracy to kill her husband.

“We had also gone to court and said that my father and my brothers may harm me or my husband,” Priya added. Kumar’s friends also beat up Jha after he shot at the victim. He was also rushed to a hospital. The video of students beating up the accused also surfaced online.

After receiving the information, a senior official rushed to the spot. Jha was taken into custody. “A love affair was ongoing with the deceased, and a love marriage had taken place in April 2025. After the death incident, the people present there caught and beat Prem Shankar Jha, due to which Prem Shankar Jha is injured and has been sent to PMCH Patna for treatment,” the Darbhanga Police said.