10 held for trying to smuggle diesel in boat near Colaba

“We were informed that a suspicious boat, which is possibly a part of a diesel smuggling syndicate, is loitering between Colaba and Mandwa jetty following which a beat of Sagari 1 and our police station was sent there,” an officer said.

Police initially raised an alarm instructing them to stop, however, they tried to escape when the patrolling boats chased and intercepted the suspicious boat. “Our team then got into their boat and found diesel illegally stored in the space meant to keep their day’s catch,” said an officer.

During questioning, the 10 men gave evasive answers, following which they were taken to the police station and their boat was seized.

The arrested persons identified as Datta Harichandra Koli, Indrajit Prithviraj Nishad, Rohit Tejmani, Sheikh Zahid Hussain Mohammed, Suraj Kumar Mahesh, Sadiq Shakur Sheikh, Kamlesh Kumar Basantram Gautham, Harichandra Ramasumram Chaudhari, Sonu Bajrangi Gautham and Vishal Arjan Gaikwad, were later released on bail.

“We believe that the 10 accused are part of the larger syndicate and they were working under the behest of their masters,” an officer said.

Police further added that when their team tried to get the details of the owner of the boat, it came to light that the owner had passed away. “Other people are likely to be involved. On Monday when our team went to look for the owner’s son, we were informed that he is in the sea for fishing,” a senior police officer said.