Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch has uncovered that the key conspirator in the kidnapping of alleged drug mafia Sajid Electricwala—identified as Sarwar Maksud Khan—used the encrypted “Zangi” app for calls and chats to mask his presence from law enforcement. Investigators say Sarwar coordinated with Anwar Babu Shaikh, brother of fugitive gangster Chhota Shakeel, and other accused over the app during and after the abduction.
According to the Source, Sarwar allegedly instructed all co-accused to exclusively use the Zangi app for voice calls and messaging to evade detection. The Crime Branch is analysing the seized phones, call logs and chat histories. The accused also used an internet dongle, now seized, to further conceal their locations and identities.
Rs.51 lakh extorted via angadia: After the kidnapping, the gang allegedly collected Rs.51 lakh from Sajid’s family through an angadia courier network. Only Rs.95,000 has been recovered so far; the Crime Branch is tracking the remaining money trail. Sarwar is suspected to have used two firearms during the offence; both are yet to be recovered. Photos of a company plant found on his phone have led investigators to suspect MD (mephedrone) manufacturing at the site. A raid is expected soon, officials said.
A senior officer said Sarwar is a relative of Anwar Shaikh and had threatened to kill Sajid over a financial dispute. Police say several accused, including Sarwar, are not cooperating with the investigation. The Crime Branch has arrested three more accused identified as Jitendra Mangalsingh Thakur alias Akbar Batla, Vijay Krishna Kale alias Saddam (34) and Hussain Abdul Farid Khan. All three allegedly played “crucial roles” in the abduction. Trio have been appeared before Esplande Court, trio sent to Police Custody till July 29. With the latest action, 10 accused have been arrested, while five others remain on the run.
Among those earlier arrested and now remanded to judicial custody after their police custody ended are Yunus Umar Taival Pil (40), Mohd. Tausif Mohd. Hanif Zhendi (37), Satish Bharat Kadu (32), Santosh Sitaram Waghmare (41), Sarwar Maksud Khan (43), Mehtab Ali Mausam Ali Khan (40) and Rahul Raghunath Sawant (37)
On July 24, 2025, one of the arrested accused told police that Vijay Krishna Kale alias Saddam was called in “for work”, after which two vehicles and 7–8 associates were mobilised. Two victims were allegedly abducted, taken separately to Powai and Neral, and assaulted—indicating Saddam’s active involvement, investigators said.
