MTNL cable theft case sees a major breakthrough as Mumbai Crime Branch arrests three more accused, including an MTNL employee. Total arrests rise to seven in the multi-crore cable theft racket, with investigations expanding into the possible involvement of other MTNL staff.
By: Rupesh Kumar Singh
The Mumbai Crime Branch’s Unit-10 has made a significant breakthrough in the multi-crore MTNL cable theft case by arresting three more accused, including an employee of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL). With the latest arrests, the total number of accused held in the case has increased to seven. Investigators are now probing the possible involvement of additional MTNL employees and other members of the organized theft syndicate.
According to the police, acting under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection-1) Navnath Thakaji Dhawale and led by Senior Police Inspector Vishal Raje, Crime Branch Unit-10 conducted a raid on June 30 near the Magathane Telephone Exchange in Borivali (East). During the operation, officers caught four accused red-handed while allegedly stealing MTNL cables.
The four accused were identified as Sahil Shakeel Shah (20), Rizwan Mehtab Malik (24), Abdul Siddique Ahmed Shaikh (38), and Mohammed Afzal Hasan Khan (35).
Police seized MTNL cables worth approximately тВ╣40 lakh, along with a JCB excavator, two Bolero vehicles, and other equipment allegedly used in the theft. The total value of the seized property is estimated to be around тВ╣1 crore.
Based on crucial leads obtained during interrogation, Crime Branch investigators subsequently arrested Sahil Kelkar and Manoj Gupta from the Sakinaka area. Later on Friday night, police also arrested Vinod Kundan Yadav, a clerk posted at the Kandivali Telephone Exchange.
Investigators allege that Vinod Yadav played a key role in facilitating the theft of MTNL cables by working in coordination with the organized gang. The thefts reportedly took place across several locations, including Goregaon, Samtanagar, Kandivali, Mira Road, and Borivali, resulting in losses worth crores of rupees.
The arrest of an MTNL employee has sent shockwaves through the department and raised concerns about possible insider involvement in the theft racket.
The Mumbai Crime Branch is now focusing its investigation on identifying whether other MTNL employees or external accomplices were also involved in the organized crime network. Police officials said the investigation is progressing rapidly, and more arrests are likely in the coming days.
