According to police, the gang had trafficked around 20 women for prostitution and used them to solicit customers in and around the Kalyan

Kalyan: In a first-of-its-kind action in Thane district, Thane police have invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against a six-member women-led gang allegedly involved in running an organised prostitution racket in the Kalyan railway station area, reports Pradeep Gupta.Police said the action was taken after investigations revealed that the accused were operating a well-organised network engaged in trafficking women, luring them with money and forcing them into prostitution. The gang allegedly arranged customers and earned substantial financial gains through the illegal trade.The case was initially registered on Feb 21, 2026, at Mahatma Phule police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashok Honmane said, “During the probe, police found that the accused had formed an organised criminal syndicate and were repeatedly involved in offences for financial gain”.Based on the evidence collected, police sought permission from senior officers to invoke MCOCA. Following approval from the Additional Commissioner of Police (East Region), Thane, provisions of the anti-organised crime law were added to the case.According to police, the gang had trafficked around 20 women for prostitution and used them to solicit customers in and around the Kalyan railway station area.The accused were taken into custody from Kalyan District Jail after obtaining court permission and formally arrested under the provisions of MCOCA. A special MCOCA court had earlier granted police custody till July 6, following which the accused were remanded to judicial custody.Baliramsingh Pardeshi, senior police inspector of Mahatma Phule police station, said, “The six women arrested in the running gang have at least two to four cases against them in past, and this is the first instance in Thane police commissionerate where MCOCA has been invoked against a women-led organised prostitution racket”.

According to police, the gang had trafficked around 20 women for prostitution and used them to solicit customers in and around the Kalyan

Kalyan: In a first-of-its-kind action in Thane district, Thane police have invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against a six-member women-led gang allegedly involved in running an organised prostitution racket in the Kalyan railway station area, reports Pradeep Gupta.Police said the action was taken after investigations revealed that the accused were operating a well-organised network engaged in trafficking women, luring them with money and forcing them into prostitution. The gang allegedly arranged for customers and earned substantial profits through the illegal trade.The case was initially registered on Feb 21, 2026, at Mahatma Phule police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashok Honmane said, “During the probe, police found that the accused had formed an organised criminal syndicate and were repeatedly involved in offences for financial gain”.Based on the evidence collected, police sought permission from senior officers to invoke MCOCA. Following approval from the Additional Commissioner of Police (East Region), Thane, provisions of the anti-organised crime law were added to the case.According to police, the gang had trafficked around 20 women for prostitution and used them to solicit customers in and around the Kalyan railway station area.The accused were taken into custody from Kalyan District Jail after obtaining court permission and formally arrested under the provisions of MCOCA. A special MCOCA court had earlier granted police custody till July 6, following which the accused were remanded to judicial custody.Baliramsingh Pardeshi, senior police inspector of Mahatma Phule police station, said, “The six women running the gang have at least two to four cases against them in past, and this is the first instance in Thane police commissionerate where MCOCA has been invoked against a women-led organised prostitution racket”.

Mohammed Abuzar, the 13-year-old boy

Bhiwandi/Navi Mumbai: A 13-year-old boy, Mohammed Abuzar, was swept away in a stormwater drain while playing with friends in Bhiwandi on Monday. This was the third such tragedy involving minors in Bhiwandi in the last three days. The other victims are still missing.According to the civic body, Abuzar lost his balance and fell into the fast-flowing water. He was swept away by strong currents before anyone could rescue him. A search operation was immediately mounted but he could not be traced till late evening.Meanwhile, a youth drowned in Waghachiwadi river near Gadeshwar dam in Navi Mumbai and his friend was washed away on Sunday evening. The two were part of a group of 10 friends out on a monsoon picnic by the river.Prithviraj Ghorpade, senior inspector, Panvel taluka police, said Nayan Mhatre (25) got caught in the currents and Sumit Pawar (26) rushed to rescue him but was pulled in too. Mhatre got swept away and Pawar was pulled out. The other friends rushed Pawar, who had difficulty in breathing, to hospital, where he was declared dead.

Municipal Engineers Union workers protest outside BMC’s M-West ward office on Monday

Mumbai: The Municipal Engineers Union on Monday staged a protest outside BMC’s M-West ward office against the suspension of civic engineers in connection with two recent monsoon-related incidents, demanding that the disciplinary action be revoked.Calling the action “premature and unjust”, the union said engineers should not be suspended before a thorough inquiry establishes responsibility, and sought a fair investigation before any punitive action is taken.Last week, the BMC administration suspended three engineers following the tree collapse in Chembur that claimed the life of 11-year-old Vihaan Srivastav. In a separate incident, four civic officials, including the assistant municipal commissioner of L ward, were suspended following the death of 55-year-old Aslam Ishaq Shaikh, who fell into an open manhole in Saki Naka on July 2.In case of the manhole death, an engineer said, the ward staff wasn’t informed of the protective grille installation work, so how could the engineers be expected to be at the site.In case of the tree-crash death, the union said that in a letter to the contractor in March, the roads department’s executive engineer of eastern suburbs directed the contractor, Gawar Construction Ltd, to immediately implement protective measures for trees located within work zones. The notice also observed that several trees in the area were of “advanced maturity”, many showed a “noticeable lean” indicating potential instability, and that excavation activities could increase the “risk of tree failure”.The union later also presented their request before the civic chief.

No suicide note was found

Mumbai: A State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) constable posted on guard duty at Lok Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor of Maharashtra located at Malabar Hill, allegedly died by suicide after shooting himself with his service weapon on Monday evening, said police. No suicide note was found.The constable, Kaustabh Sangle (26), was attached to the Group 16 Kolhapur, said police.Police are collecting information about the deceased and are trying to find out the reason behind the extreme step.

Navi Mumbai: Two days after he went missing at Pandavkada waterfall in Kharghar while on a picnic, the body of a Santacruz collegian was retrieved from a downstream channel around 2km away on Monday.“The body was retrieved in the morning and was handed over to local police,” a Kharghar fire brigade personnel said.Kharghar police took the body of Shannon Kini (19) for a postmortem examination and later handed it over to the family. “The body was found floating around 2km away from the spot after being swept away in the heavy water currents. His family members were not in a condition to provide more details,” said a police constable. An accidental death report has been filed.Kini had sneaked into the waterfall, along with a friend, flouting a prohibitory order restricting the entry of visitors during the monsoon. The two are suspected to have taken a much risky trek path in an attempt to reach deep into the area. Kini is assumed to have slipped from a few feet up and fallen into the gushing waters.Meanwhile, a search was still on for a 20-year-old Taloja man, Mohammed Mobshir Mohammed Shahid, who had gone missing around the same spot on Friday.