Mumbai cops arrest accused who stole city photographer's camera, seizes stolen equipment

The accused and the recovered camera

The Mumbai Crime Branch Unit 11 arrested accused Abhishek Kashyap who had absconded with a senior photographer's camera during singer Javed Ali's concert. Sources revealed that the accused had deliberately turned his mobile phone off and had been evading authorities by staying in different places. However, the Crime Branch traced and arrested him from Malwani Pascalwadi area near Malwani Church last evening. The seized camera and lens are now in the possession of the MHB police, who will be conducting further investigations.

Kashyap, aged 28, is a resident of Pascalwadi; the accused in the guise of hiring photographer Sunil Oval to cover an event, asked him to come to Kachhi Ground in Borivali where renowned singer Javed Ali's concert was being held. Exploiting the trust gained during the event, the accused took off with Oval's camera, resulting in a criminal breach of trust. Oval promptly filed a complaint, leading to the registration of an FIR against the accused.

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Under the guidance of DCP Rajtilak Roashan and senior inspector Vinayak Chauhan from Unit 11 Crime Branch, Police Inspector Bharat Ghone, along with ASI Tarte, HC Surve, and HC Khatate, successfully trapped the accused near Nageshwar Society, Pascalwadi, using technical analysis.

After a thorough interrogation, the accused Kashyap confessed to the offence and the camera and lens valued at Rs 95,000 was recovered from him. After a medical examination, the accused, along with the confiscated camera, was handed over to the MHB Colony Police Station for further legal proceedings.

Further investigation revealed that the accused is a habitual offender and has committed similar crimes by deceiving photographers into covering concerts and events before fleeing with their equipment.

PSI DR Deepak Hinde, under the supervision of Senior Inspector Sudhir Kudalkar at the MHB police station, is actively pursuing the case.

Photographer Sunil Oval expressed his gratitude to both the crime branch officials and the MHB police for their efforts. In a statement to mid-day, Oval revealed that five to six individuals have contacted him, reporting that the same accused had also duped them.