Mumbai Police’s Sion Police Station has achieved a major breakthrough by arresting a 49-year-old chain snatcher who had spread fear across several areas of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The accused has been identified as Mohan Kokate. Interestingly, while the accused changed his appearance and clothes after every crime, it was his shoes that ultimately led the police to him.
Following a chain-snatching incident in the Sion area, police scanned nearly 80 CCTV footages. The accused was highly cautious and would always wear a helmet during the crime to conceal his identity, frequently changing clothes to avoid detection. However, alert officers noticed that the shoes worn by the suspect were the same in every CCTV clip. This crucial clue helped the police track him down.
The case came to light after a woman was robbed in Sion on January 25. Initially, the victim was reluctant to lodge a complaint as the mangalsutra that was snatched was fake. After police counselled her, an FIR was registered and the investigation was intensified.
During the probe, it was revealed that Kokate had stolen a motorcycle from Nerul, which he used to commit the crimes. To evade arrest, he specifically targeted elderly women who were alone. After committing the offences, he would park the stolen bike near Teen Haath Naka in Thane and walk back home, a tactic aimed at misleading the police.
Surprisingly, the accused hails from a well-educated and respectable family. His relatives include engineers, chartered accountants, and family members settled abroad. Kokate had earlier been jailed in 2011, after which he started working in gardening along with his father. However, addiction to online casinos and rising expenses pushed him back into criminal activities.
Police have recovered valuables worth approximately ₹1.20 lakh from the accused. In January alone, five FIRs were registered against him. The Sion Police have booked Kokate under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), arrested him, and further investigation is underway.