The Mumbai Crime Branch on Thursday filed a chargesheet under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against 14 arrested and 5 wanted accused in connection with the failed drug deal-kidnapping case.
The case came to light following kidnapping and extortion attempt from a real estate agent after a drug deal had gone wrong.
The investigations had revealed that the kidnapping stemmed from a dispute over a Mephedrone drug deal and the dealer had allegedly received Rs 50 lakh from the accused for the supply of Mephedrone but failed to deliver the drugs or return the money, police said.
According to police, the complainant Shabbir Siddiqui (45) alleged that his friend Sajid Electricwala had taken Rs 50 lakh from one Sarwar Khan to set up an illegal MD drug lab, but neither provided the drugs nor returned the money.
On June 12, 2025, Sarwar Khan, along with Yunus Theverpalli and their accomplices, allegedly kidnapped Shabbir and Sajid from a hotel in Andheri (West) area of suburban Mumbai, police said.
The two were taken to Neral, where they were beaten and held captive, it said.
The police said that on the night of June 14, Shabbir managed to escape through the back window and approached Oshiwara Police Station, fearing for Sajid’s life. Based on his complaint, a case was registered and later transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch`s Unit 3 for further investigation.
Police found that the gang was led by Mohammed Tausif, Hanif Zendi alias Tausif Machandi, who is believed to be the alleged kingpin of the group. The case was found to involve elements of organised crime, leading to the invocation of MCOCA provisions.
After collecting sufficient evidence, the Crime Branch filed the chargesheet before the Special MCOCA Court in Mumbai on October 9. The charges include kidnapping, assault, extortion, criminal conspiracy and MCOCA, etc.
The investigations were carried out under the guidance of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint CP (Crime) Lakhmi Gautam, Additional CP (Crime) Shailesh Balkawade, and DCP (Detection) Raj Tilak Roshan.
The investigating team was led by ACP (Detection) D-South, and included PI Dinkar Shilwate, PI Sadanand Yerekar, and other officers.
