In a joint operation, Nirmal Nagar Police in Mumbai arrested two individuals—Azan Jethva and Nidha Shaikh—from Goa for allegedly cheating multiple people through a resale platform by posing as buyers and sellers.
The duo, both residents of Mumbai, operated a “Bunty and Babli-style” scheme. They would rent apartments for a day, lure victims selling high-end gadgets such as iPhones and laptops, and then flee with the goods after locking the victims inside.
The latest incident occurred on June 23, when the accused rented a 1RK flat in Khar (East) and invited a seller under the pretext of buying his iPhone and laptop. Once the seller arrived, they took the gadgets and pretended to leave for an ATM to withdraw cash. Instead, they locked the complainant inside and escaped.
The victim managed to alert a neighbor through a window and filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Nirmal Nagar Police Station.
During the probe, police traced the stolen iPhone to a resale listing in Goa. A trap was set, and the accused were arrested at a Panaji hotel while trying to resell the phone. The operation was carried out in coordination with Goa Police and under the guidance of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 8) and the Senior Inspector of Nirmal Nagar Police Station.
The stolen mobile phone and laptop were recovered, and further investigations are ongoing to identify additional victims and uncover the full scope of their fraud network.
