Debt-ridden youth turns chain snatcher for narco & gambling A 25-year-old e-rickshaw driver, Sachin Shahu, has been arrested for allegedly committing chain snatching to fund his addiction to narcotics, particularly mephedrone (MD), and a gambling habit. The incident occurred in Laxmi Nagar, Nagpur, where Shahu targeted a 77-year-old woman during her morning walk near a Jain temple. The accused allegedly snatched her 10-gram gold chain worth Rs 60,000 and slapped her before fleeing. Shahu’s criminal activities were driven by mounting debt and a cycle of addiction. Police revealed that he had earlier attempted suicide and spent several days in the hospital, but his financial struggles persisted. To sustain his expenses, he borrowed money from his girlfriend, despite having no prior criminal record. His initial attempts to avoid detection were successful, but his luck ended on April 4 when he committed the chain snatching incident. To evade capture, Shahu took deliberate routes through narrow lanes and bylanes to avoid CCTV cameras. However, the Crime Branch’s technical team managed to piece together footage from multiple locations, leading to his arrest at Butibori. During interrogation, Shahu confessed to the crime, stating it was to repay debts. The stolen gold chain was recovered, and the two-wheeler used in the offense was seized. Senior inspector Dnyaneshwar Bhedodkar of the Crime Branch confirmed the arrest, noting that the accused had been handed over to Bajaj Nagar police. The case was supervised by Addl CP Vasant Pardeshi, DCP Rahul Maknikar, and ACP Abhijeet Patil. The arrest highlights the intersection of personal financial distress, addiction, and criminal behavior, underscoring the challenges law enforcement faces in addressing such cases.#nagpur #jain_temple #crime_branch #laxmi_nagar #sachin_shahu
Retd medical officer in ‘digital arrest’ duped of Rs2cr A 76-year-old retired medical officer from Laxmi Nagar in Nagpur has fallen victim to a sophisticated ‘digital arrest’ scam, losing a total of Rs2 crore to fraudsters who impersonated government officials. According to a First Information Report (FIR) filed at the cyber police station on Saturday, the victim received threatening messages on his mobile number between March 23 and April 3. The scammers, posing as authorities from the Supreme Court, Enforcement Directorate (ED), Mumbai Police, and Reserve Bank of India (RBI), sent fake documents with official stamps via WhatsApp. These messages falsely claimed his bank accounts were linked to terrorist activities, prompting the senior citizen to transfer funds online. The FIR details indicate that the fraudsters used WhatsApp to communicate with the complainant, leveraging the urgency of legal threats to manipulate him into complying. The fake documents, which included official seals and purported legal notices, were designed to instill fear and urgency. The victim, reportedly a retired medical officer, was misled into transferring the money through online banking channels. The police have now invoked several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 340(1), 204, 61(2), and Section 66 of the Information Technology Act. These provisions address offenses such as criminal intimidation, forgery, and cybercrime. Despite the police investigation, no arrests have been made so far. Cyber experts have issued warnings to the public, particularly senior citizens, against sharing personal details or transferring funds in response to calls or messages claiming to be related to ‘digital arrests’ or fake warrants.#nagpur #supreme_court #enforcement_directorate #retired_medical_officer #laxmi_nagar
