Andheri Crime Shocker: Allegedy Jeb Katras Still Exist

The Andheri crime scene now has to check for Jeb katas, too, apparently. In a classic case of street-smart theft executed with shocking precision, a resident of Andheri East was allegedly robbed of ₹2 lakh in broad daylight while on his way to buy jewellery from the bustling Zaveri Bazaar.

According to the man, the incident unfolded on June 12, 2025, between 10:11 AM and 10:30 AM near Vishal Hall in Andheri East. The victim, a 54-year-old businessman, had withdrawn ₹50,000 from an ATM. He was carrying the full ₹2 lakh cash amount, comprised entirely of ₹500 denomination notes, in bundles tucked inside a small cloth pouch kept in a side pouch of his satchel.

After the bank visit, he boarded BEST Bus No. 415, intending to travel toward the jewellery market. But just as he got off at his stop near Vishal Hall, he felt something suspicious — his satchel felt lighter. Instinctively checking the pouch, he was horrified to find that it had been expertly slit open, and the cloth bundle within had also been cut. Of the five bundles he had carried, only one, containing ₹ 50,000, remained. The remaining four bundles, amounting to ₹2 lakh, had vanished.

Shocked and rattled, the bus driver and conductor advised the man to report the incident immediately to the police. He headed straight to the MIDC Police Station in Andheri East, where an FIR was registered under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which deals with theft with dishonest intent.

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According to the police statement, the man had been living in the area with his wife and son for several years. He earns his living through property dealings, while his son is employed in the MIDC area. That morning, he left home at 9:50 AM specifically to withdraw money and make a jewellery purchase.

Investigating officers believe this was a meticulously timed theft – likely committed by an experienced pickpocket who had been tracking the man’s movements, possibly from the moment he exited the bank. The modus operandi – slitting a bag in a moving or crowded location and extracting valuables – is reminiscent of classic public transport thefts that have plagued the city for decades.

Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the bank, the bus route, and the bus stop near Vishal Hall in an attempt to identify the culprit. So far, the thief remains unidentified and at large. The case has reignited conversations around the safety of carrying large sums of cash, especially on public transport. Authorities have once again urged citizens to adopt safer methods, such as digital transactions or bank-to-bank transfers for large payments, especially in a city known for its pickpocket hotspots.

With ₹2 lakh gone in a matter of minutes, the victim’s story is a chilling reminder of how even the most mundane routine – a short bus ride – can turn into a nightmare when urban crime strikes.