Delivery Boy Turns Chain-Snatcher To Fund Online Gambling Addiction, 9 Cases Detected

Navi Mumbai: A 24-year-old Blinkit delivery boy allegedly turned to chain-snatching to fund his online gambling addiction, leading to the detection of nine cases reported in Sanpada, Vashi and Koparkhairane, the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch said on Thursday. The police have recovered gold jewellery worth Rs 17.92 lakh and the scooter allegedly used in the offences.

The accused, Kumar Babu Chavan, was arrested by Crime Branch Unit 1 following a parallel investigation into a series of chain-snatching cases. Police examined CCTV footage from the crime scenes, the routes used by the accused and the surrounding areas before identifying him from his clothing and the grey scooter allegedly used in the offences.

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A trap was laid after the suspect was identified. When signalled to stop, Chavan allegedly sped away, but police constables Chandrakant Kadam and Sagar Sonwalkar apprehended him along with the scooter.

Delivery routes aided offences

Chavan, a resident of Bonkode in Koparkhairane, was familiar with the roads, lanes and routes in Sanpada, Vashi and Koparkhairane because of his work as a delivery executive, police said.

During the investigation, police found that Chavan had allegedly become addicted to online gambling on his mobile phone. After losing money, he allegedly resorted to chain-snatching to arrange money to gamble again. Police said he was caught in a cycle of committing robbery, losing the money in online gambling and then committing another robbery to fund his addiction.

The investigation further revealed that Chavan had allegedly pledged the stolen jewellery with a jeweller in Koparkhairane. The jeweller, Jagdishchandra Ramchandra Kumawat, 33, of Radhe Jewellers, has also been made an accused in the case.

Gold jewellery, scooter seized

Police recovered eight gold mangalsutras and chains weighing 68.84 grams and valued at Rs 17.92 lakh from the jeweller. The grey TVS Ntorq 125 scooter, bearing registration number MH-03-DL-7178 and allegedly used in the offences, was also seized.

Chavan was arrested on September 25 and was remanded in police custody till October 1. He has been linked to nine cases registered at Sanpada, Vashi and Koparkhairane police stations under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 304(2), 309(4), 309(6) read with 3(5), and 305.

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Wanted accused arrested

In the other operations, the Central Crime Branch arrested wanted accused Nitin Ramdas Bavikar, 35, who was allegedly hiding in Andhra Pradesh and other states to evade arrest. Bavikar was wanted in four cases registered at Kalamboli police station and has 24 previous serious cases, including house-breaking offences, police said.

Another habitual offender, Abrar Akbar Sheikh, 21, was arrested from Nagpada after police analysed footage from more than 50 CCTV cameras in connection with a Taloja house-breaking case. Police said Sheikh was also involved in two other cases and has more than 20 previous house-breaking cases. A 12-gram gold bar worth Rs 11.60 lakh and Rs 10,000 in cash were recovered from him.

Crime Branch Unit 3 also detained Mangesh Desai Kale alias Rahul Kanta Raj Pawar alias Manju, 19, from Indapur in connection with a robbery case registered in Panvel. Police recovered a stolen mobile phone, a knife, two iron sickles and a black bag. The investigation has led to the detection of six robbery and house-breaking cases across Maharashtra, while three other accused are wanted.

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Heroin seized near CBD Belapur

In another operation, Crime Branch Unit 2 seized 41.05 grams of heroin worth Rs 18.30 lakh near the CBD Belapur bus station. The accused, Gurpreet Savinder Singh, 38, from Tarn Taran in Punjab, was arrested after allegedly attempting to flee. Police said preliminary investigation indicated that the heroin had been brought from Punjab.

ACP (Crime) Bhausaheb Dhole said the operations were carried out through parallel investigation, CCTV analysis and technical surveillance, with teams working across different jurisdictions to trace suspects and recover stolen property. He appealed to citizens to remain alert about their jewellery and to inform police about suspicious activities or drug sales.

The Crime Branch said a total of 23 cases were detected in the operations and property, including gold jewellery, narcotics, vehicles and other articles, was recovered.

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Police appeal to citizens

Police have urged citizens to contact 112 if they notice suspicious two-wheeler riders. Information about narcotics can also be shared with the Navi Mumbai Police helpline at 8828 112 112, with police assuring that the identity of informants will be kept confidential.

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