The Special Task Force of the Crime Branch, Mumbai Railway Police Commissionerate, successfully busted a major mobile theft racket with the arrest of a notorious phone thief, Shyam Ramakant Baranwal (34). Officers recovered 49 stolen handsets worth Rs 20.89 lakh from the accused, who targeted commuters during crowded train journeys and public events across India.
Acting on a tip-off, Railway Police laid a trap on July 2, 2025, near the Byculla Railway premises where Baranwal was caught attempting to dispose of the stolen phones. The seized smartphones included popular brands such as Apple, OnePlus, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, Realme, and Redmi.
The case originated from a complaint filed by 19-year-old Sujit Sagun Kamble from Ulhasnagar. Kamble’s phone was stolen on January 25, 2025, while travelling on the UP Gorakhpur Express between Ambivali and Shahad stations. Following the complaint, the Kalyan Railway Police registered a case under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Under the supervision of DCP Pragya Zedge and the efforts of Sr. PI Vijay Khedkar, PI Rohit Sawant, API Abhijit Bhupendra Taylor, and the technical and field team, the police dismantled the racket and secured the arrest.
