Mumbai police recover 100 stolen mobile phones worth Rs 15 lakh

File photo for representation.

The police stations under Zone 2 in Mumbai have recovered 100 mobile phones, collectively valued at Rs.15 lakhs, and returned them to their owners.

The operation involved teams from Pydhonie, L.T Marg, D.B Marg, Malabar Hill, Gamdevi, and V.P Marg police stations.

Through tracking using the CEIR portal and employing various other measures, the police were able to trace and retrieve the stolen phones.

The handover of the recovered phones to the respective complainants took place at Nagpada police station on January 30. The complainants have expressed joy as they got their phones back.

Meanwhile, three persons from Maharashtra's Thane district were defrauded of Rs 19 lakh after being promised high-paying jobs online, a police official said on Tuesday.

Newswire PTI reported that the accused persons swindled Rs 19, 97, 019 from the three victims.

An official from Khadakpada Police Station told PTI that one of the victims in her police complaint stated that they were contacted through a Telegram ID with an offer of such jobs, after which they invested money in various online assignments.

However, the victims didn't receive any money for their work nor the sum they had invested, the report further stated.

The PTI report stated that the cops, based on the complaint filed on Sunday, have registered a case against thee woman who contacted the three victims under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

In another instance, a Navi Mumbai businessman was defrauded of Rs 60.23 lakh after he was lured to invest in forex and cryptocurrency trading for lucrative returns. The cops have booked five persons in connection with this case.

According to the report, the accused had contacted the 59-year-old businessman, a resident of the Kalamboli area, and enticed him to invest in forex and cryptocurrency trading. The accused also promised high returns and the man subsequently invested Rs 64, 70, 024 through various links made available by the accused, Navi Mumbai cyber cell's senior police inspector Gajanan Kadam told PTI.

However, when the complainant sought returns, the accused gave evasive replies. After his persistent follow-up, the accused returned only Rs 4, 46, 878 and later turned unresponsive.

The cyber cell police, on Monday, registered a case against five persons based on the complaint; they were charged under Sections 419 (cheating by personation) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code, the PTI report stated.

According to the report, the official said that those not familiar with financial instruments like forex and cryptocurrency should exercise caution and thoroughly research any investment platform or person before committing funds. (With additional reporting from PTI)