Yearender 2021: From rape-murders to drug busts, top crime stories that shook Mumbai

This picture has been used for representational purpose. Pic/istock

Apart from many scandals involving the likes of Raj Kundra, Aryan Khan and Anil Deshmukh, Mumbai also witnessed misdeeds against women, a rise in cybercrime and major drug busts. Here's a look at the cases that shook the city:

Crimes against women

Kurla rape-murder case: On November 27, a 20-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered in Kurla, and her body dumped on the 13th floor of a vacant building in the HDIL compound. The victim was stabbed in the abdomen and chest at least 26 times and hit with a hammer in the skull. The victim and accused were allegedly in a relationship and the former was insisting for marriage. The man, not ready to take a plunge yet, hatched a plan with his friend to kill the victim. The duo were arrested by the police on November 27.

Dombivli gang rape case: In one of the most shocking incidents of the year, a 15-year-old girl from Dombivli was allegedly gang-raped multiple times by 33 people at different locations, including Dombivli, Badlapur, Murbad and Rabale, between January 29 and September 22. The sexual assault began in January when the girl's friend allegedly raped her and filmed the crime to blackmail her and rape again. The other accused did the same. The case came to light when the minor complained to her aunt. Twenty-two of the 33 arrested were remanded to judicial custody by Kalyan sessions court.

Sakinaka rape-murder case: On September 10, a 34-year-old woman was raped and brutally murdered with an iron rod inside a tempo in Sakinaka. The woman died during treatment the next day. The accused and victim were known to each other and an argument over a financial dispute allegedly led to the assault. The accused confessed to the crime and was arrested by the police. The Mumbai Police filed a 346-page charge-sheet, including statements from 77 witnesses, along with medical, forensic and circumstantial evidence.

Cybercrime

Sextortion racket: In February, the Cyber Cell of Mumbai Crime Branch arrested three people, froze 175 Facebook accounts and busted a massive ‘sextortion' racket targeting politicians, bureaucrats and celebrities. The accounts used photographs of women to target people. The cyber cell found that once the victim indulges in any sexual acts over video call while watching the pornographic clips, the accused used to take screen grabs and threaten with it to extort money.

Women duped through matrimonial sites: In yet another classic case of online scam, a Thane man was arrested for duping women of Rs 2.5 crore through matrimonial websites. The accused, identified as Prajit Keje, used to cheat women on pretext of marrying them and seek money by making up fake stories.

Rape threats to Kohli's daughter: In November, the Mumbai Cyber Cell arrested a person from Hyderabad for allegedly sending rape threats to Indian Test captain Virat Kohli's 10-month-old daughter on Twitter. The 23-year-old was identified as Ramnagesh Akubathini, an IIT graduate.

Drug busts

Drugs seized worth Rs 13 crore: On December 14, NCB seized Amphetamine, opium and Zolpidem tablets in varying quantities from different locations in suburban Andheri and South Mumbai, and arrested an Ivorian national. The collective value of the seizure is estimated at Rs 13 crore. The seized drugs were to be smuggled to Australia, New Zealand, Maldives, Dubai, USA, hidden in stethoscopes, ties, bicycle helmets, ovens, bangles, food bags.

Heroin worth Rs 249 crore seized: On December 10, the Air Intelligence Unit of the Mumbai Customs seized 35 kg of heroin worth around Rs 249 crore and held two foreign nationals, including a woman traveler, at the International Airport. The AIU had received a tip-off about an attempt to smuggle in heroin and a probe has been initiated in the case.

Zambian woman caught with heroin worth Rs 18 crore: A Zambian national was arrested from the Mumbai international airport allegedly with 3.5 kg of heroin worth Rs 18 crore on September 24. The 33-year-old was held from a flight that had arrived from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The contraband, weighing 3.5 kg and worth Rs 18 crore, was found in a cavity in her bag.