The Special Task Force of the Crime Branch, Mumbai Railway Police Commissionerate, has busted a major mobile theft racket, arresting notorious thief Shyam Ramakant Baranwal (34) and recovering 49 stolen smartphones valued at Rs 20.89 lakh.
The gang systematically targeted commuters during crowded train journeys and large public events across India.
Acting on a tip-off, police laid a trap on July 2, 2025, arresting Baranwal near the Byculla Railway premises as he attempted to dispose of the stolen handsets. The seized phones included brands like Apple, OnePlus, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, Realme, Redmi, and others.
The case came to light after 19-year-old Sujit Sagun Kamble of Ulhasnagar reported his phone stolen on January 25, 2025, while travelling on the UP Gorakhpur Express. Following his complaint, a case was registered under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Under the leadership of DCP Pragya Zedge, and with efforts from Sr. PI Vijay Khedkar, PI Rohit Sawant, API Abhijit Bhupendra Taylor, and technical teams, police cracked the racket.
Baranwal, a resident of Kailash Tower, Nalasopara (East), and originally from Rampur village in Kushinagar, UP, has a history of 14 prior cases in the Mumbai Railway Police jurisdiction. He was remanded in custody until July 12, 2025.
Preliminary investigations reveal he is part of a wider interstate mobile theft syndicate operating during festivals and peak train hours, selling stolen phones in black markets.
Thirteen past mobile theft cases from various police stations in Maharashtra, Odisha, and UP have been linked to the recovered phones. The investigation is ongoing.
