Mumbai Crime Branch Rescues Drug Trafficker, Busted International Drugs Gang in UP

The Mumbai Crime Branch has made a significant breakthrough in a high-profile case, rescuing international drug trafficker Sajid Electricwala nearly a month after he was kidnapped from Jogeshwari. The operation was conducted in Banda district, Uttar Pradesh, leading to the arrest of seven individuals involved in the crime.

According to officials, the arrested individuals have been identified as Mehtab Ali, Santosh Waghmare, Rahul Sawant, Satish Kadu, Yunus Tevarpilli, and Taufis Saindh. Among them, three were apprehended in Banda, three in Mumbai, and one in Raigad. Additional suspects remain at large and are being traced by the Crime Branch.

The investigation revealed that the abduction was orchestrated by Chhota Shakeel’s brother, close aide Sarwar Khan. On June 12, Sajid and his associate Shabbir Siddhiqui were kidnapped from Ali Baba Hotel in Jogeshwari. Sajid met Shabbir at the hotel to discuss a real estate issue, as Shabbir is a real estate agent.

The victims were first taken to a farmhouse in Neral, Raigad District, where they were held captive for two days. On June 14, Shabbir Siddhiqui managed to escape by removing the iron bars from a window grill and reached Mumbai, where he filed a complaint with the police.

Shabbir, a resident of Kurla, managed to escape on June 14 but only approached the police on July 10. Meanwhile, Sajid was transported to another farmhouse in Raigad, where he was allegedly tied up and brutally assaulted. The kidnappers demanded Rs.3 crore in ransom, of which Sajid reportedly paid Rs.50 lakh in installments.

Following Shabbir’s complaint at Oshiwara Police Station, the case was handed over to the Crime Branch due to its severity. A technical and on-ground investigation revealed that the abductors were constantly moving between Mumbai, Raigad, Nashik, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi to evade capture.

All accused, including the victim Sajid, were found to be habitual offenders with a history of cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and Arms Act, except for Satish Kadu and victim Shabbir.

Six teams were formed and dispatched to various locations. Acting on specific leads, one team raided a guest house in Banda on the night of July 15 and rescued Sajid while arresting Mehtab Ali, Sarwar Khan, and Rahul Sawant.

Officials revealed that Sajid was previously arrested by Maharashtra ATS in 2015 for involvement in a multi-crore MD drug case and has multiple cases under the NDPS Act. His association with Sarwar began at Arthur Road Jail, where they reportedly became close. Sarwar allegedly gave Rs. 50 lakhs to Sajid for drugs. The Mumbai Crime Branch is now actively searching for the remaining accused.