A case involving the theft of telecom cables worth more than ₹1 lakh has been registered at the Malabar Hill Police Station in South Mumbai, officials confirmed. The stolen property belonged to Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) and was part of its underground telecom infrastructure. The incident has raised concerns over the safety of essential communication systems in the city. Authorities stated that the theft disrupted telephone connectivity in certain areas, prompting immediate action from the concerned department. Police have begun an investigation into the matter and are working to identify those responsible for the crime.
The complaint was lodged by Shashank Ravindra Chaturvedi, a 39-year-old Deputy Manager with MTNL. He has been residing with his family at the MTNL Telephone Building located in Kemps Corner since 2015. In his role, he is responsible for overseeing telecom-related services, addressing public complaints, and ensuring smooth maintenance operations in the Malabar Hill and Cumballa Hill regions. Chaturvedi detailed his responsibilities and explained how the disruption in communication services came to his attention. His prompt response to the issue played a crucial role in uncovering the theft and initiating further inspection of the affected area.
According to Chaturvedi, multiple complaints about disruptions in telephone services were received on March 28, 2026. Taking the matter seriously, he assigned staff members Abhijit Labde, Sameer Bhatare, and Shailesh Misal to investigate the issue on March 30 at approximately 5:30 pm. The team was instructed to inspect the site and identify the cause of the disruption. Their visit was part of routine troubleshooting procedures followed by MTNL when network issues arise. The swift deployment of the team helped in identifying the underlying problem and provided clarity on the nature of the disruption affecting telecom users in the area.
Around 6:00 pm, Labde informed Chaturvedi that ongoing excavation work by civic authorities near Uphar Co-operative Housing Society on Siri Road in the Chowpatty-Bandstand area had exposed the underground MTNL cables. Upon closer inspection, the cables appeared to have been deliberately cut. Chaturvedi immediately rushed to the location and confirmed that the telecom PCUT cables were missing. The discovery indicated that the exposed cables had been targeted and stolen. The situation highlighted how ongoing construction activities can sometimes create vulnerabilities in underground infrastructure, making them susceptible to theft or damage if not properly secured.
Further investigation, including a review of CCTV footage from nearby areas, revealed that the theft likely occurred between 6:00 pm on March 27 and 6:00 pm on March 30. The footage showed unidentified individuals arriving at the site using a tempo and a motorcycle, allegedly to carry out the theft. The stolen items included five black PCUT cables measuring approximately 30 to 35 meters each, with a diameter of three inches and weighing between 80 to 90 kilograms, valued at ₹90,000. Additionally, a black jelly cable of similar length, weighing around 75 to 80 kilograms and valued at ₹16,000, was also taken. The total loss has been estimated at ₹1.06 lakh, and police have registered a case against two unidentified suspects while continuing their investigation.