Delhi: Inter-state racket busted, 4 held with 45 phones stolen from 'visarjan' crowds in Mumbai

New Delhi, Sep 12 (PTI) The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police has arrested four members of an inter-state gang that allegedly stole high-end mobile phones during the "Lalbaugcha Raja" Ganesh idol-immersion procession in Mumbai, an official said on Friday.

Accused Mohammad Shakil (49), Mohammad Shafiq (34), Shamshul Hasan (40), and Dilshad (36) were planning to smuggle the phones to Nepal, police said, adding that 45 stolen mobile phones were seized from their possession.

"The gang was involved in large-scale thefts at the Juhu Chowpatty and the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh visarjan procession in Mumbai earlier this month. The gang specifically targeted crowded gatherings and religious processions, where the rush gave them an opportunity to steal valuables. They had stolen several high-end phones from Mumbai, which were to be smuggled to Nepal," a police officer said.

He said a team tracked the suspects returning from Mumbai by train. Their mobile phone locations indicated that they were on board the Haridwar Express. An advance team was deployed at the Mathura railway station. The team members boarded the train and apprehended the four suspects when the train reached the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station here on Thursday.

"During interrogation, the accused revealed that they were operating for more than 10 years, with one Shakil acting as the kingpin. Phones stolen during such operations were usually channelled through contacts in Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh and eventually, sold in Nepal," the officer said.

Police added that Kamran alias Sadiq, the kingpin, was arrested by the Mumbai Police on September 6. The others managed to escape and boarded the train back to Delhi.

The accused have a history of involvement in criminal cases across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir.

"While Shakil has previously been jailed in Mandoli, Ajmer and Prayagraj, the others too have past cases of theft, quarrels and arms-related offences registered against them. Of the phones seized from their possession, at least five have already been linked to FIRs lodged in Mumbai police stations," the officer said.

The Crime Branch has informed the Mumbai Police about the arrests. PTI BM ANM RC