The Dahisar Police have arrested two robbers who, disguised as auto-rickshaw drivers, targeted intoxicated individuals exiting bars and restaurants. Their primary focus was on heavily inebriated victims, whom they pretended to drop home. Instead, the accused would drive them to isolated locations where they assaulted, threatened, and looted them of valuables, including cash, jewellery, and mobile phones.

According to the police, the arrested accused have been identified as Dinesh Brijraj Chaturvedi (50), a rickshaw driver from Dahisar East, and his accomplice Rakesh Ambika Tiwari (50), from Kandivali East.

The duo allegedly attacked the complainant, attempted to strangle him, issued threats of grievous harm, and forcibly snatched his gold chain, mobile phone, and debit/credit cards.

Based on the victim’s complaint, the Dahisar Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on 29 September.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team laid a trap near Gokulanand Hotel Junction, Bhoir Vajan Kata, Dahisar East, and apprehended both the accused. During the search, police recovered the stolen mobile phone from Chaturvedi and seized the rickshaw used in the crime.

Investigations revealed that the duo are habitual offenders, with over six prior cases of extortion, theft, and property-related crimes registered against them in Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar districts.

According to officers, the duo had a unique modus operandi. They would wait outside restaurants and bars in their auto-rickshaw, targeting visibly intoxicated customers. Once the victims boarded the vehicle, the accused would divert the route to a deserted location, where they would rob them of jewellery, mobile phones, and cash. Any resistance from the victim was met with physical assault.

The detection team, led by PI Ashok Nana Ghuge and comprising API J. Waghmare, Prakash Lahane, P.H. Amit Patil, P.H. Syed, P.H. Jadhav, P.H. Sushant Jadhav, Kapil Chaudhary, Omkar Rane, and Mahendra Mahale, cracked the case using CCTV footage, technical analysis, and intelligence inputs, said Senior Inspector Sarjerao Patil of Dahisar Police Station.

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