Two Thane Residents Sentenced for 2020 Chain Snatching Case
A special MCOCA court in Mumbai has sentenced two men from Thane — Zakir Irani (39) and Sonu Ananta Jadhav alias Raj (28) — to five years in prison and imposed a ₹15.3 lakh fine each for their role in a chain-snatching incident that took place in November 2020 at Malad (East).
According to the prosecution, the court found that the duo wasn’t just involved in one-off crimes — they were part of an organised crime syndicate targeting morning walkers and commuters in Mumbai suburbs.
What Happened That Morning
The incident dates back to November 9, 2020, when a man was on his morning walk toward Goal Garden in Malad around 6 a.m. Out of nowhere, a blue scooter approached him from behind.
The pillion rider — later identified as Jadhav — tried to snatch the man’s gold chain. When the victim resisted, Jadhav allegedly hit him on the head with a helmet, making him lose balance. The rider, believed to be Irani, then snatched the chain and sped off.
Even though two bystanders helped the victim, the attackers threatened to run him over if he tried to chase them. Despite that, he managed to note part of the bike’s number plate and lodged a complaint at Dindoshi Police Station soon after.
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Police Nabbed Irani the Same Day
Police tracked Irani down within hours based on a confidential tip, arresting him the same day. His accomplice, Jadhav, was arrested a month later.
During the investigation, officers found a pattern in their crimes — Irani was often the main accused in several chain-snatching cases across the region. The modus operandi was the same each time: a quick ride-by attack, a gold chain or mangalsutra snatched, and a speedy escape.
Prosecutor: “Irani Headed a Crime Syndicate”
Public prosecutor Jaysingh Desai told the court that Irani had four previous cases and was out on bail when this attack took place. Jadhav was reportedly co-accused in some of those cases too.
“It’s clear that in each and every case, Zakir is the main accused,” Desai argued. “He had associates like Gulam Hussain in three cases, and the pattern of targeting victims’ necks to steal jewellery remained identical.”
The MCOCA court found that both Irani and Jadhav operated as part of a criminal network, not just as petty offenders — leading to their conviction under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
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Why This Conviction Matters
The judgment sends a strong signal against repeat offenders and organised crime rings that often operate across city limits. Chain-snatching cases, once rampant in Mumbai and Thane, had seen a dip after several syndicates were busted post-2020.
With this ruling, authorities hope to further curb such street crimes and ensure stronger deterrence through financial penalties and imprisonment.
Disclaimer:
This article draws on verified information from The Free Press Journal and other reliable sources. Axpert Media has independently written, edited, and structured this content to ensure accuracy and compliance with newsroom ethics.
Source Credit:
Original reference: The Free Press Journal – www.freepressjournal.in
