Seven Held in Thane Double Murder Booked Under MCOCA

Police in Maharashtra have invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against seven individuals arrested in connection with the brutal murder of two cousins in Thane district last month. The accused, including the primary suspect Vicky Mhatre, are members of an organised criminal gang with a history of violent offences spanning over a decade, according to District Superintendent of Police (SP) Dr D. S. Swami. MCOCA, enacted in 1999, is a special law designed to combat organised crime syndicates, particularly those operating in urban centres like Mumbai, by imposing severe penalties such as extended imprisonment and restrictions on bail. It targets groups involved in repeated serious crimes, including murder, extortion, and unlawful assembly, and has been upheld by the Supreme Court as a valid state measure to address escalating underworld activities.

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The victims, 42-year-old Praful Tangdi and his 22-year-old cousin Chetan Tangdi, were killed on August 11 in Khardi village, Bhiwandi. Police investigations revealed that the gang targeted Praful due to longstanding enmity, surveilling his movements before launching a deadly attack inside his office using swords and other weapons. Chetan, an office staff member, attempted to intervene and protect his cousin but was also assaulted and fatally wounded.

The incident highlights the persistent threat of gang-related violence in the region, where personal rivalries often escalate into organised retribution. The Bhiwandi Taluka police station initially registered a First Information Report (FIR) under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—India's updated criminal code replacing the Indian Penal Code—and the Arms Act, reflecting the immediate focus on murder and illegal weapon possession.

Following the murders, authorities launched an extensive manhunt, deploying multiple teams equipped with intelligence and technical surveillance tools to apprehend the suspects. All seven accused were arrested shortly thereafter, averting potential further crimes. SP Swami explained that a thorough probe into their backgrounds uncovered a pattern of heinous offences dating back to 2013, including unlawful assembly, assault, attempted murder, and illegal arms possession. "The consistent criminal behaviour indicated they operated as a structured gang, justifying the invocation of MCOCA," he stated, emphasising the law's role in dismantling such networks.

Investigators are now delving deeper into the gang's operations, probing its broader criminal network and possible connections to other unresolved cases across Maharashtra. This development underscores ongoing efforts by law enforcement to curb organised crime, which has long plagued industrial hubs like Thane and Bhiwandi. With MCOCA's stringent provisions, including confessions admissible as evidence and limited judicial oversight on arrests, the case is expected to proceed swiftly in a special court, potentially leading to life sentences or harsher penalties if the organised crime charges hold.

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