Mumbai police from the Sir J J Marg Police Station have arrested six members of an interstate gang responsible for stealing mobile phones at crowded venues, including religious gatherings, political rallies, and other public events. Authorities recovered 52 stolen phones and linked the suspects to 16 cases across the city.
The arrested individuals are:
Sakib Ashfaq Khan (30) – Tailor, Kukanipar, Kallari Ganj, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Sartaj Sarfaraz Sheikh (27) – Autorickshaw driver, Chhipyana, Kasai Mohalla, Unnao, Uttar Pradesh
Aamir Abid Khan (41) – Tailor, Chamanganj, Karnalganj, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Istiyaq Sadiq Khan (37) – Labourer, Kabristan Galli, Amrut Nagar, Kausa, Thane
Gohar Gulam Jilani (48) – Tailor, Peshkar Road, Karnalganj, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Afzal Usman Nai (35) – Barber, Gadiya Kritwali, Badaun district, Uttar Pradesh
The case began on February 26, 2026, after Abdul Rehman Aslam Sayyed (21) reported that his Redmi 11T phone was stolen while shopping for iftar items in Bohri Mohalla, Bhendi Bazaar, during Ramzan. A complaint was filed at Sir J J Marg Police Station under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Under the leadership of PSI Prashant Nerkar, police conducted three days of covert surveillance in crowded areas such as Nal Bazaar and Mastan Talav. On March 2, a suspicious individual was detained at Mastan Talav and revealed the existence of a six-member gang.
Following this, police launched a two-team operation. Acting on intelligence, the remaining gang members were apprehended at Kurla Railway Station while attempting to flee to Uttar Pradesh.
Investigations revealed that the gang rented multiple rooms in Mumbai to aid their operations. The 52 recovered phones confirmed their involvement in 16 cases citywide. The gang reportedly targeted crowded festivals, political events, and other large gatherings, selling the stolen phones through contacts near the India-Nepal and India-Bangladesh borders.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner Satya Narayan Chaudhary, Additional Commissioner (South Region) Abhinav Deshmukh, DCP Zone 1 Pravin Mundhe, ACP Dongri Division Tanveer Shaikh, Senior Police Inspector Rais Shaikh, and Police Inspector (Crime) Mukunda Waghmode.
The arrests were carried out by PSI Prashant Nerkar and the detection team comprising Niyazuddin Tadvi, Sachin Patil, Mandar Ghadge, Pravin Shevre, Deepak Davre, Bharat Chaudhary, and Ganesh Dalvi. Investigations are ongoing.
