Mumbai Crime Branch Nabs Two In Sajid Electricwala Kidnap Case; Pistol, Ransom Links Recovered

Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch has made significant progress in the high-profile abduction case of notorious drug trafficker Sajid Electricwala, with the arrest of two more accused Deepak Nandkishor Sharma (32) and Nitin Rokde. Sharma was nabbed from Vadodara, Gujarat, while Rokde was apprehended from Panvel by Crime Branch Unit 5. Both have been remanded to police custody till July 29.

According to Crime Branch sources, Deepak Sharma, who had previously met key conspirator Sarwar Khan in Thane jail, was entrusted with hiding the pistol used during the kidnapping. The weapon a loaded five-round pistol was used by Khan to threaten Electricwala during the ransom demand. Sharma allegedly transported and concealed the firearm in Gujarat. Acting on leads developed during interrogation of other accused, police recovered the weapon and ammunition from Sharma.

The investigation also revealed that Sharma had stayed at a farmhouse in Neral for four to five days, where the kidnapped Electricwala was held. Nitin Rokde was also present during this period. After leaving the Neral farmhouse, Sarwar Khan reportedly moved Electricwala through Panvel, Karjat, Dhule, and Indore, eventually reaching Lucknow. Along the way, the pistol was handed over to Sharma for safekeeping.

Sharma, a repeat offender, has a history of criminal activity. He was previously arrested in a 2021 firing case in Dahisar and spent about seven months in Thane jail, where he came into contact with Electricwala. Sharma has at least nine cases registered against him across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

The abduction of Sajid Electricwala was part of a larger extortion racket. His captors had demanded ₹3 crore from his family, of which ₹50 lakh was reportedly paid. Investigators believe ₹40 lakh of that ransom went directly to Sarwar Khan, a close aide of Anwar Babu Sheikh—brother of fugitive underworld figure Chhota Shakeel.

Crime Branch officials further stated that Khan had earlier given ₹50 lakh to Electricwala after their release from jail, instructing him to set up a drug manufacturing unit. When Electricwala failed to deliver, Khan allegedly orchestrated the kidnapping to recover the money.

The probe has uncovered the involvement of several hardened criminals in the operation, including Yunus, Mehtab Ali, Satish Kadu, Tausif Zaidi (accused in molestation and Arms Act cases in Deonar and Tilak Nagar), Rahul Sawant (six criminal cases in Thane and Badlapur), and Santosh Waghmare (over 12 cases including MCOCA, Arms Act violations, and illicit liquor smuggling; with records in Jogeshwari, JJ Marg, Mahim, MIDC, BKC, and Revdanda).

The case is still unfolding, with police intensifying efforts to arrest the remaining absconding suspects and trace the financial network possibly linked to the D-Gang and the Chhota Shakeel syndicate.