Police said they have frozen between Rs 50 crore and Rs 60 crore parked across nearly 150 mule bank accounts.

Mumbai: The city crime branch has busted a major international cyber fraud and money laundering syndicate, arresting 12 members who were allegedly operating from a villa in Calangute, Goa. Investigators suspect the syndicate laundered more than Rs 500 crore of cyber fraud proceeds to handlers based in Dubai using mule bank accounts and SIM cards.Following the arrests, police said they have frozen between Rs 50 crore and Rs 60 crore parked across nearly 150 mule bank accounts. Investigators are also trying to ascertain why the syndicate chose Goa as its operational base for the alleged cyber fraud network.During the investigation of a cyber fraud case registered at Pydhonie police station, police found a gang involved in opening mule bank accounts in Mumbai and supplying them to operators in Goa for use in cyber fraud and illegal online gaming activities.“The syndicate paid large sums to the owners of mule accounts and collected their bank welcome kits, including SIM cards linked to the accounts. These SIM cards were used to receive OTPs, enabling the accused to operate the accounts and transfer the money to their handlers in Dubai,” said Dilip Tejankar, senior police inspector of Crime Branch Unit II.According to the police, the accused used online platforms known as “100 Panel” and “Rudra” to process requests for the withdrawal and transfer of funds generated through cyber fraud and illegal online gaming.Acting on intelligence inputs, the Mumbai Crime Branch raided the villa in Calangute and arrested all 12 accused. During the search, police seized 15 laptops, 128 ATM cards, 85 mobile phones, 76 SIM cards, 22 cheque books, 77 bank passbooks, six routers, and three keyboards.“We have just arrested the gang and are now trying to establish their links with the Dubai-based operators. Preliminary inquiries reveal that most of the arrested accused are from Gujarat. They were paid a monthly salary of Rs 35,000 along with commission. Their primary role was to immediately launder the cyber fraud proceeds from mule accounts and transfer the funds to handlers in Dubai,” said DCP Raj Tilak Roshan.He added that the entire operation was controlled by handlers based in Dubai.A preliminary analysis of the seized bank accounts has revealed links to at least 83 cyber fraud cases registered across the country through the National Cyber Crime Helpline ‘1930’. Investigators are now examining the digital devices and banking records to identify additional beneficiaries, accomplices, and the international financial network behind the operation.

Arrested accused Surendra’s wife Priti

Deceased victim Sunil Vishwakarma and his injured wife Anju

Arrested accused Suraj Vishwakarma

Arrested accused Surendra Vishwakarma

Arrested accused Surendra’s wife Priti

Deceased victim Sunil Vishwakarma and his injured wife Anju

Arrested accused Suraj Vishwakarma

Arrested accused Surendra Vishwakarma

Arrested accused Surendra’s wife Priti

Mumbai: A long-standing dispute between the brothers over household issues took a tragic turn early Thursday when a quarrel over loud music allegedly escalated into a brutal knife attack that left a 40-year-old man and his 14-year-old son dead and three others, including the man’s wife, younger son and a neighbour, injured at Rahul Nagar in Vikhroli West.In an attempt to bring the violence under control, their neighbours reportedly switched off the electricity supply to plunge the house into darkness before entering and separating the accused from the victims.The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of Parksite police station in Vikhroli West. The deceased have been identified as Sunil Vishwakarma and his teen son Shlok. Both sustained grievous knife injuries and were declared dead during treatment at Rajawadi Hospital. Sunil’s wife, Anju (35), and their younger son, Vivaan (15), suffered multiple stab injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital. A neighbour, Mahadev Magar, who attempted to intervene, also sustained knife injuries to his right hand.Police have arrested Sunil’s brothers, Suraj Vishwakarma (33) and Surendra (36), along with Surendra’s wife, Priti Vishwakarma (35), on charges of murder and attempt to murder. According to the police, all three brothers lived together in a small house with a mezzanine floor at Rahul Nagar, while their eldest brother resides in Nalasopara. The eldest brother, Anil Vishwakarma, had moved out a few years ago due to the space crunch.Sunil, who was an RTO agent earlier, had begun driving an aggregator taxi, while his two brothers did odd jobs. “The three brothers often fought over petty things such as payment of electricity and water bills and various other issues,’’ said an official.According to the police, the immediate trigger for the murder was an argument over loud music being played shortly after midnight. Police said one of Sunil’s two sons was playing music which Suraj objected to, saying it was well past midnight. Although there had been simmering tensions between the brothers for some time, investigators say the dispute over the music might have become the immediate cause of the confrontation.What began as a verbal argument soon escalated into a violent physical assault. According to eyewitnesses, Surendra and Suraj allegedly attacked Sunil, who had just returned home from work, overpowering him inside the house. While Surendra allegedly restrained Sunil, Suraj picked up a kitchen knife and repeatedly stabbed him in the neck and chest.“Sunil’s wife and son immediately rushed to rescue him, but the two brothers started assaulting them as well,” an eyewitness told the police.The violence allegedly intensified when Shlok tried to protect his father. According to eyewitnesses, Suraj stabbed the 14-year-old twice in the neck, causing him to collapse. Anju Vishwakarma was also allegedly stabbed twice while trying to shield her husband and Shlok, while Vivaan suffered injuries during the assault.The attack continued for several minutes despite desperate cries for help. Residents of the locality rushed towards the house on hearing the commotion, but were allegedly prevented from entering.According to eyewitnesses, Surendra’s wife, Priti, had bolted the door from outside and stood guard, preventing neighbours from intervening.Neighbour Mahadev Magar, who eventually forced his way inside, alleged that Priti threatened him with a false rape case if he entered the house.“She warned me that if I went inside, she would file a rape complaint against me. But the screams continued, so I pushed past her and entered the house to stop the assault. During the struggle I was stabbed twice on my right hand, and the knife pierced through my hand,” Magar told TOI.Residents also claimed the assault continued for a considerable time before they managed to intervene. According to locals, several people recorded videos of the incident on their mobile phones.The injured were immediately rushed to Rajawadi Hospital, where doctors declared Sunil and Shlok dead. Anju, Vivaan and Mahadev Magar were provided medical treatment, with Anju and Vivaan later shifted to a private hospital.Police have secured the crime scene, and a forensic team examined the house and collected evidence. Mobile phone videos recorded by local residents are also expected to form part of the investigation.A case of murder and attempt to murder has been registered against Suraj Vishwakarma, Surendra Vishwakarma and Priti Vishwakarma. Police are examining the exact sequence of events, the role played by each accused, and whether the assault was premeditated or an impulsive act arising from the family dispute.

The complaint links the alleged irregularities to the massive fire that broke out at Link Square Mall on April 29, last year, claiming the blaze destroyed society records and hampered scrutiny of its financial affairs

Mumbai: More than a year after the massive fire at Link Square Mall, the Khar police have registered an FIR against the office-bearers of the mall’s cooperative society, alleging that Rs 2.73 crore in property tax they collected from members was not paid to the BMC, which in turn led to outstanding dues soaring to Rs 4.47 crore, including penalties. The FIR accused the society’s former secretary, treasurer and another office-bearer of criminal breach of trust, cheating and other offences linked to the society’s financial management.According to the FIR, the office-bearers had not paid property tax to the BMC since 2019, despite collecting it from members. Over Rs 2.73 crore worth of unpaid property tax dues led to an outstanding penalty amount of Rs 1.68 crore, which made the total outstanding property tax to be paid at Rs 4.47 crore, the FIR alleged, adding that the office-bearers didn’t appoint auditors or place audited accounts before members.Another major allegation was that the society, comprising 198 shops and a restaurant, has not held elections for nearly two decades and that the accused continued to control its affairs without conducting statutory audits or annual general meetings. It further alleged that maintenance charges collected from shop owners over the years were not properly accounted for and that members were repeatedly denied access to audit reports, bank statements and financial records.The FIR comes after several shop owners had submitted a detailed complaint to police in March this year seeking registration of a criminal case for alleged financial misappropriation, forgery and destruction of records.The complaint links the alleged irregularities to the massive fire that broke out at Link Square Mall on April 29, last year, claiming the blaze destroyed society records and hampered scrutiny of its financial affairs. The Mumbai Fire Brigade’s inquiry into the fire had pointed to serious fire safety deficiencies, including non-functional firefighting systems, and recommended action against those responsible for certifying the mall’s fire safety, besides a structural audit.The FIR also referred to proceedings before the Bombay High Court; following petitions by affected stakeholders, the court directed the deputy registrar of Cooperative Societies to decide whether an administrator should be appointed for the society. The deputy registrar, while replacing the society with a board of authorised officer, appointed the husband of the accused society secretary as its member, the FIR alleged.

Exuberant winners who were present at the venue expressed happiness that their dream of owning a home in the Mumbai had been fulfilled.

MUMBAI: Mhada conducted its computerised lottery for 2,640 homes at Rangsharda Auditorium in Bandra at noon Thursday. As their names flashed on screen, successful applicants received congratulatory messages from the housing board on their cellphones.The flats are located in Vikhroli, Goregaon, Magathane, Gorai, Chembur, Bandra, Ghatkopar, Girgaum, Wadala, Powai, Mazgaon, Powai, Dadar and Antop Hill.Exuberant winners who were present at the venue expressed happiness that their dream of owning a home in the city had been fulfilled. The first winner to come up was the elderly Dattu Sangle. “I have tried my luck at several Mhada lotteries. I retired from my job two years ago and grew to think I would never win a flat. Today, I feel one must keep the faith — it will happen, if not today then tomorrow.”Another lucky bidder, media executive Satyam Singh said affordable public housing was a real need for people who cannot opt for expensive projects by private builders.Mhada employees benefited from a separate housing quota instituted for them. Deputy engineer Sarika Lokhande had been applying since 2013. She said, “I was unmarried then and as per my income I applied under the EWS category. I got married in 2019. Over the years as my income rose I applied under LIG and MIG categories but never won. This year I applied under HIG — and today I have won a 1,300 sq ft 3 BHK apartment with beautiful grand balconies in Magathane, Borivli, at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore. I am so happy! My message to applicants is do not stop trying if small dreams fail. Maybe God has something bigger and better in store for you.”Another Mhada staffer Shubhangi Nikam who is visually impaired won two apartments, one in the Mhada employees’ category, the other in the disabled persons’ quota. “I will visit both locations and decide which to keep and which to surrender,” she said.CM Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde were unable to attend the lottery due to other commitments but despatched messages of goodwill. Meanwhile addressing the gathering, guardian minister for Mumbai suburban district Mangal Prabhat Lodha directed officials to take stringent action against developers who fail to hand over homes reserved for Mhada under applicable regulations. He stated that filing an FIR alone was not sufficient and, wherever necessary, such developers should be “sent to jail”.Minister of state for housing Pankaj Bhoyar, mayor Ritu Tawde as well as senior Mhada officials voiced their thoughts.

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Thursday indicated that it would on Friday pass an order to release on bail Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre (73) and three others who have been accused and arrested for allegedly beating up doctors, including a woman, at Shastri Nagar Municipal Hospital in Dombivli on July 6. The release would be on a strict condition to remain out of Maharashtra till the chargesheet is filed, said Acting Chief Justice RV Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad.Senior counsel Aabad Ponda, while seeking bail for Mhatre, said he was willing to stay outside the state till the chargesheet is filed, and the HC could impose such and other stringent conditions.The HC had after reading about the “brutal assault’’ on even a female doctor and the strike call given by Indian Medical Association (IMA) had on its own taken up the issue, stayed the bail orders for all four accused, and ensured Mhatre had gone back behind bars following his release from magisterial custody. Ponda said a “lesson was learnt”, but invoked the ‘bail, not jail’ principle.Senior counsel Ashok Mundargi, an amicus curiae — appointed to assist the court — in the matter said a speedy trial is important to send out a “strong message’’ to retain society’s faith in the system, especially where politicians are involved.Shishir Hirey, the state’s public prosecutor, said most of the probe is complete and the chargesheet would be filed in around 10 days, but the forensic reports are awaited.Mundargi submitted that if the HC were to direct the forensic laboratory, the report would be expedited. The HC said that it would do so, and sought to know from all sides present what other bail conditions be imposed. Senior counsel S U Kamdar, for IMA, suggested that Mhatre be kept outside the city at least till the trial is over and even after chargesheet is filed. Advocate Sana Raees Khan represented the three co-accused in court.The HC said it would issue directions that in 10 days, along with the chargesheet, a special public prosecutor with “large experience” be appointed, who should not be replaced mid-way, and that the trial be fastracked.All four accused, who are lodged at Aadharwadi Jail in Kalyan, would on their release be asked to report to the local police station outside Maharashtra and would not be allowed to contact any of the witnesses or other persons. No attempt to tamper with evidence would be tolerated too. The HC will pass the order on these lines on Friday.Kamdar also said the two doctors, including the woman doctor, who have still not reported back for work, be given police protection to enable their return. Both had tendered their resignations, which the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation had not accepted.Hirey said the doctor who lodged the complaint was given protection from his hometown in Washim to Mumbai, and local police there were “sensitised’’. He added that the state was ready to provide security, provided the doctors’ accept it because last time, the state was told their privacy would get compromised.

In the next phase, the BMC plans to introduce SMS alerts to keep applicants updated on the progress of their birth/death certificate applications

Mumbai: The BMC on Thursday introduced a computerised application management system at Citizen Facilitation Centres (CFCs) across all ward offices enabling birth and death applicants to submit requests and track their progress at a single location.The move comes after TOI’s August 2 report, ‘Birth certificate bottlenecks leave weddings, visas in limbo; BMC seeks 7 more registrars’, on how citizens were facing inconvenience in obtaining their birth certificates from the civic body. BMC’s medical health officers and record section doctors have reached out to the aggrieved cases mentioned in the report and tried to iron out the issues they were facing in obtaining the birth certificates.The new system will cover services including correction of birth, death and marriage certificates, insertion of a child’s name in birth certificates, and conversion of old birth and death certificates into the new QR code-enabled format. Officials said applicants will receive a Unique Acknowledgement Number (UAN) allowing them to track the status of their requests at the CFC.In the next phase, the BMC plans to introduce SMS alerts to keep applicants updated on the progress of their applications.Until now, citizens had to submit applications directly to the office of the medical officer of health and visit the office repeatedly for updates. The BMC said the manual process also made it difficult for the administration to monitor pending applications and workloads effectively.Additional municipal commissioner Prajakta Verma Lavangare said the new system is aimed at making birth and death registration services more transparent, efficient and citizen-friendly while ensuring time-bound processing of applications.The BMC has also set up dedicated counters at CFCs for converting old birth and death certificates into the new QR code-enabled format, a service expected to benefit applicants seeking corrected certificates for education, passport, visa and other official purposes.For birth and death records registered before 2016, citizens can apply for the new-format certificates through the Centre’s Civil Registration System (CRS) portal. However, the BMC said processing of such applications may take longer as older records require additional verification. The civic administration said efforts are underway to streamline verification of legacy records and reduce processing time.Advocate Faiyaz Alam Shaikh, who has been dealing with complaints pertaining to delay in obtaining digital birth certificates, said, “Birth registration is the foundation of a person’s legal identity. A birth certificate is the primary statutory document through which an individual’s identity, age, parentage and nationality-related particulars are officially recorded. Unreasonable delays in registration or correction directly affect citizens’ ability to exercise several constitutional and legal rights, including access to education, passports, employment, marriage registration, inheritance, banking and social welfare schemes. Therefore, efficient and timely civil registration is intrinsically connected.”

The new rules explicitly target legal ambiguities used in the past by liquor traders.

MUMBAI: In a major win for urban residents across Maharashtra, the state government has officially handed cooperative housing societies the power to veto liquor shops from moving into their premises. Under a fresh notification issued by the Home Department, liquor vendors looking to relocate their outlets to residential or residential-cum-commercial complexes will now strictly require a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the registered housing society.The decision comes after years of friction between housing societies and liquor vendors in urban hubs like Mumbai, Thane, and Pune. Residents have long complained about the nuisance of off-license liquor shops opening on their building ground floors—citing safety concerns, crowding, illegal parking, and disturbance to neighborhood peace. Previously, license holders often exploited procedural gaps or secured approvals before a housing society was fully formed, leaving flat owners with little legal recourse once the shop was operational.Plugging the partial OC loopholeThe new rules explicitly target legal ambiguities used in the past by liquor traders. Under the amendments to both the Bombay Foreign Liquor Rules, 1953, and the Maharashtra Country Liquor Rules, 1973—titled the 2026 Amendment Rules—the NOC requirement applies directly to FL-2 (foreign liquor off-consumption) and CL-3 (country liquor) licenses.Crucially, the government has mandated that an NOC from the society remains compulsory even if a complex has only received a Partial Occupancy Certificate (POC). In Mumbai’s real estate market, builders frequently hand over lower floors or commercial wings while upper floors remain under construction. By requiring an NOC at the Partial OC stage, the state prevents vendors from quietly setting up shop before flat buyers formally organize their managing committees.Fair balance for retailersWhile the notification empowers housing societies, it also offers operational clarity to business owners. To prevent societies from using annual renewals as leverage for extortion or ongoing disputes, the rule states that once a shop successfully relocates after obtaining the initial NOC, the license holder will not need to seek a fresh NOC every year.Signed by deputy secretary Ravindra Aute under the orders of the Governor of Maharashtra, the notification was brought into force immediately by invoking special powers under Section 143 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949, bypassing the usual prior publication process to ensure immediate relief.Mixed reactions across the cityThe notification has evoked sharp and contrasting reactions from citizen groups and business owners.Housing society federations have hailed the amendment as a historic victory for residential rights. “For years, commercial space owners sold or rented ground-floor units to liquor shops without consulting the residents living right above them. The nuisance of drunken crowds and late-night commotion was borne by families. Making the NOC mandatory—even at the Partial OC stage—finally gives flat owners a direct say in shaping their living environment,” said Mr.Ramesh Prabhu, chairman, Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association (MahaSewa).Conversely, liquor retail trade associations expressed deep concern, arguing that the mandatory NOC could lead to moral policing and administrative roadblocks. “While we welcome the waiver on annual NOC renewals, putting relocation permissions entirely at the mercy of housing society committees will make finding suitable commercial premises almost impossible,” noted a senior representative of the wine and liquor traders and retailers associations.“Housing societies often refuse permission indiscriminately due to social stigma, even when a business fully complies with all state excise and municipal safety laws. As most of the old buildings and slums are going under SRA or redevelopment, many liquor stores will have to shut down and shift. This new rule will make it very difficult for them to open in new places. As of now also there are atleast 3/4 shops that are shut from last 2/3 years even after paying the annual renewal fee. Government should bring out a special policy of shifting for liquor stores going under redevelopment or SRA,” members added.

File pic for representational purpose only

Mumbai: In a major win for urban residents across Maharashtra, the state government has officially handed cooperative housing societies the power to veto liquor shops from moving into their premises. Under a fresh notification issued by the state home department, liquor vendors looking to relocate their outlets to residential or residential-cum-commercial complexes will now strictly require a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the registered housing society.The decision comes after years of friction between housing societies and liquor vendors in urban hubs like Mumbai, Thane, and Pune. Residents have long complained about the nuisance of off-licence liquor shops opening on their building ground floors—citing safety concerns, crowding, illegal parking, and disturbance to neighborhood peace. Previously, license holders often exploited procedural gaps or secured approvals before a housing society was fully formed, leaving flat owners with little legal recourse once the shop was operational.Plugging the Partial OC LoopholeThe new rules explicitly target legal ambiguities used in the past by liquor traders. Under the amendments to both the Bombay Foreign Liquor Rules, 1953, and the Maharashtra Country Liquor Rules, 1973 — titled the 2026 Amendment Rules — the NOC requirement applies directly to FL-2 (foreign liquor off-consumption) and CL-3 (country liquor) licences.Crucially, the government has mandated that an NOC from the society remains compulsory even if a complex has only received a Partial Occupancy Certificate (OC). In Mumbai’s real estate market, builders frequently hand over lower floors or commercial wings while upper floors remain under construction. By requiring an NOC at the Partial OC stage, the state government prevents vendors from quietly setting up shop before flat buyers formally organise their managing committees.Fair Balance for RetailersWhile the notification empowers housing societies, it also offers operational clarity to business owners. To prevent societies from using annual renewals as leverage for extortion or ongoing disputes, the rule states that once a shop successfully relocates after obtaining the initial NOC, the license holder will not need to seek a fresh NOC every year.Signed by deputy secretary Ravindra Aute under the orders of the Governor of Maharashtra, the notification was brought into force immediately by invoking special powers under Section 143 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949, bypassing the usual prior publication process to ensure immediate relief.Mixed Reactions Across MumbaiThe notification has evoked sharp and contrasting reactions from citizen groups and business owners.Housing society federations have hailed the amendment as a historic victory for residential rights. “For years, commercial space owners sold or rented ground-floor units to liquor shops without consulting the residents living right above them. The nuisance of drunken crowds and late-night commotion was borne by families. Making the NOC mandatory — even at the Partial OC stage — finally gives flat owners a direct say in shaping their living environment,” said Ramesh Prabhu, chairman, Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association.Conversely, liquor retail trade associations expressed deep concern, arguing that the mandatory NOC could lead to moral policing and administrative roadblocks. “While we welcome the waiver on annual NOC renewals, putting relocation permissions entirely at the mercy of housing society committees will make finding suitable commercial premises almost impossible,” said a senior representative of the wine and liquor traders and retailers associations.“Housing societies often refuse permission indiscriminately due to social stigma, even when a business fully complies with all state excise and municipal safety laws. As most of the old buildings and slums are going under SRA or redevelopment, many liquor stores will have to shut down and shift. This new rule will make it very difficult for them to open in new places. As of now also there are at least 3-4 shops that are shut from the last 2 to 3 years even after paying the annual renewal fee. Government should bring out a special policy of shifting for liquor stores going under redevelopment or SRA,” members added.