The Navi Mumbai Cyber Police arrested a key member of an inter-state cybercrime gang involved in duping victims under the guise of offering personal loans. The accused, identified as Ashiq Ali alias Arif (32), was apprehended from Delhi and is wanted by police in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.

The investigation began after a 26-year-old woman from Kalamboli filed a complaint in July, reporting that she was cheated of ₹14 lakh by fraudsters posing as bank representatives. The cybercriminals used a clever scam involving phone numbers registered on Truecaller as “Axis Bank” to gain the trust of victims.

Inspector Deepali Patil of Navi Mumbai’s Zone II Cyber Cell said that Arif and his accomplices used a new number for each target, collected personal and banking details over the phone, and applied for loans in the victim’s name. They would then transfer the funds to multiple accounts using OTPs generated during the calls. The gang even sent fake ID cards to reinforce their credibility.

The police are still searching for four other accomplices, including an IT professional working at an MNC in Gurgaon. Arif is currently in custody, and authorities believe the gang was preparing to impersonate HDFC Bank employees for further scams.

Doctors at Fortis Hiranandani Hospital in Vashi successfully removed a massive 6.8 kg adrenal tumor, the largest ever recorded in Maharashtra, from a 44-year-old woman. The patient, Goma Mishra, a resident of Mira-Bhayandar, was diagnosed with the tumor, known as pheochromocytoma, during a routine health check-up.

The tumor, measuring 23 x 24 x 23 cm, was removed through an exploratory laparotomy, as opposed to the more common robotic or laparoscopic surgeries. The procedure was led by Dr. Shishir Shetty, Senior Consultant-Surgical Oncology, along with a multidisciplinary team.

“Given the tumor’s size and weight, we had to surgically open her abdomen to remove it,” Dr. Shetty explained. “The surgery presented a challenge due to the risk of extreme blood pressure fluctuations, which required careful coordination between the surgical and anesthetic teams.”

Goma’s tumor went undetected for a long time, as she displayed no symptoms. Her husband, Ashutosh, revealed that she was undergoing treatment for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) when doctors discovered the tumor.

Despite the complexities, the tumor was removed in 20 minutes, and Goma has since made a full recovery. She has returned to her daily routine with the support of her family.

A shopkeeper in Kalamboli was arrested on Friday after allegedly harassing a teenage girl, police said. The incident occurred when the girl, a local resident, visited the shop run by Mohammad Sabbir Idu.

According to authorities, the girl had gone to Idu’s shop on October 13 for routine errands when the shopkeeper reportedly behaved inappropriately towards her. Distressed by the encounter, the teenager immediately ran home and informed her mother about the incident.

Following her daughter’s account, the mother decided to take swift action. Together, they approached the local police station and lodged a formal complaint against the shopkeeper.

Upon receiving the complaint, the police launched an investigation into the matter and subsequently arrested Idu. “We took the matter seriously and acted promptly after the family came forward with their complaint,” said an officer handling the case.

Idu is currently in police custody and will face charges related to the incident. The police have assured the community that such incidents will be handled with utmost seriousness and that they will continue their efforts to ensure the safety of women and minors.

Further investigations are underway.