Days after the Ganpati festivities concluded with great enthusiasm, the Mumbai Police on Monday (September 8) revealed that more than 100 mobile phones and several gold chains were stolen during the grand immersion of Lalbaughcha Raja on Anant Chaturdashi, held on Saturday.
Lakhs of people came together on Mumbai streets to celebrate ‘Ganpati visarjan’. As the crowd gathered, the chances of theft increased.
The police said that they got over 100 complaints related to mobile thefts and gold chain snatching during the auspicious event.
After devotees registered complaints about their valuables being stolen during the immersion, the Kalachowkie police station filed 20 FIRs since Saturday, according to News18.
Out of the stolen mobile phones, four phones have been recovered and four accused arrested, the police said.
Moreover, at least seven cases of gold chains were reported, and police have found two chains and detained 12 suspects.
Not just the theft, police also charged cases against people illegally flying drones during the grand immersion, which was prohibited as per the guidelines.
Here’s what victims said
The victims told Mid-Day newspaper that they were targeted near the Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal in Lalbaug, during the darshan timings.
One of the victims, Ajay Arun Chavan, said that he was with his family at Lalbaugcha Raja near the main gate when someone snatched his ‘three-tola gold chain’.
“I registered an FIR at the Kalachowkie police station. I am also collecting signatures from other victims and writing a letter to the Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal demanding compensation for our lost valuables,” he said.
More than 1.75 lakhs Ganesh idols will be immersed at different water bodies across Mumbai. Along with that, at least 6500 community Ganesh idols were also immersed.
From heavy rains pouring across Mumbai during the Ganesh festivities, to the bomb threat on Friday, nothing stopped people from celebrating the Ganesh festival with any less enthusiasm.