Police in Thane have apprehended a 40-year-old man for his alleged involvement in a high-stakes robbery where a businessman from Karnataka was held captive and forced to part with more than Rs 2 crore at gunpoint. The elaborate crime unfolded over several days in mid-December 2025.
The Deceptive Trap and Captivity
The victim, identified as 31-year-old Shamantkumar Shadak Sharappa Karder from Shimoga in Karnataka, was lured to Thane based on a promise of investment in his firm. The main accused, 40-year-old Ankit Bapu Thombre from Manpada in Thane, is alleged to have held Karder against his will in three different hotels between December 15 and 18, 2025.
During this period of wrongful confinement, Thombre, along with an accomplice, threatened the businessman. ACP (Crime) Madan Ballal of the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar police commissionerate stated that Thombre brandished a pistol while his associate wielded a knife. Under this direct threat, Karder was coerced into sharing his net banking credentials.
The Digital Heist and Investigation
Using the stolen login ID and password, the criminals executed a series of unauthorized online transactions. The total amount siphoned off from the victim's accounts was a staggering Rs 2,17,63,287.
Following the traumatic ordeal, Karder filed a formal complaint, which was registered as a First Information Report (FIR) on January 2, 2026. The case was filed under serious sections of the Indian Penal Code, including attempt to murder and wrongful confinement, along with provisions of the Arms Act.
Arrest and Ongoing Probe
Investigators revealed that Thombre had attempted to obscure his identity by using a mobile number registered in the United Kingdom. However, the police successfully tracked his movements. Thombre was arrested on January 6 from Shil Phata near Navi Mumbai.
As part of the evidence collection, the police have also seized a sports utility vehicle (SUV) believed to have been used in the commission of the crime. The investigation remains active, with law enforcement officials continuing their search for the other accomplices involved in this brazen robbery.
This case highlights a sophisticated blend of physical intimidation and digital theft, prompting authorities to delve deeper into the network behind the crime.
