In a remarkable display of proactive policing, the Mumbai Police have cracked a major burglary case worth approximately Rs 77 lakh even before the victim, a city-based artist, was aware that her house had been targeted. The breakthrough came following a precise tip-off that led to the detention of three individuals from Bombay Central railway station on Tuesday night, January 9, 2026.
The Tip-Off and Dramatic Arrest
Acting on specific intelligence received late Tuesday, officers from the Nagpada police station were alerted that three men involved in a high-value burglary at a Juhu residence were planning to board a train to Bihar from Bombay Central. A team swiftly laid a trap and apprehended the trio at the station, preventing their escape.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Phulo Mukhiya (40), Santosh Mukhiya (33), and Laloo Mukhiya (37). Upon searching them, the police recovered a staggering haul of stolen valuables. The seized items included a large quantity of gold and diamond jewellery along with other precious articles, with the total estimated value pegged at Rs 72.77 lakh.
Connecting the Dots: The Unreported Crime
With the suspects and loot in custody, the Nagpada police immediately began investigating the origin of the stolen goods. They contacted the Santacruz police, under whose jurisdiction the upscale Juhu Tara Road area falls, to inquire about any recent burglary reports matching the description.
To their surprise, the local police had no such registered complaint. Upon visiting the address deduced from the investigation, officers found a house on Juhu Tara Road that was undergoing renovation and was vacant. The owner, artist Gayathri Gujarathi, was residing temporarily at Gowalia Tank in south Mumbai while the work was ongoing.
The police then contacted Gujarathi to inform her of the incident. It was only through this call that the artist learned her Santacruz home had been burgled. She subsequently visited the property and confirmed the theft, following which she provided a formal statement to the Santacruz police.
Accused Profile and Legal Proceedings
Investigation revealed that all three accused are history-sheeters with previous cases of burglary registered against them. During interrogation, they confessed to hailing from Bihar and admitted they were in the process of fleeing to their native village with the stolen valuables when they were intercepted.
Based on Gayathri Gujarathi's statement, the Santacruz police formally registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the case. The three accused were then transferred from Nagpada police custody to Santacruz police. They were later produced before a local court, which remanded them to police custody for further investigation.
This case highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-based policing, where a timely tip-off not only led to the recovery of valuables worth millions but also solved a crime that had not yet been reported, ensuring swift justice.
