Mumbai, July 26, 2025 In a major breakthrough, police arrested 50-year-old Anwar Abdul Shaikh, alias Munnawar, from Kurla. Police allege he’s involved in over 40 cheating cases targeting senior citizens across Mumbai. They caught him in a three-tier AC compartment of a mail express train at Igatpuri station on Sunday.

The accused was on the run after learning that law enforcement authorities had tracked his location. In a bid to escape arrest, Shaikh therefore booked a last-minute tatkal ticket to West Bengal on Saturday. However, police intercepted him before he could flee the state. As a result, his escape plan failed, and authorities placed him in custody.

Shaikh is a seasoned conman with a history of fraud, particularly targeting elderly citizens. Police sources say he avoids mobile phones to dodge digital surveillance and stay untraceable. This method had reportedly kept him off the radar for quite some time.

His most recent victim was 61-year-old Naresh Gawad, from whom Shaikh stole a gold chain valued at ₹1.6 lakh. The theft prompted Gawad to file a police complaint at the Andheri police station two days after the incident. The complaint and subsequent investigation led to Shaikh’s identification and arrest.

Police are investigating several cases across Mumbai precincts, all likely linked to Shaikh. He deceives senior citizens by gaining their trust and then cheating them out of valuables like jewelry or money.

According to DCP (Zone X), the arrest was a result of coordinated surveillance and intelligence gathering. The officer said police tracked Shaikh discreetly and acted quickly once they found him to stop his escape from Maharashtra.

“Shaikh has been operating with calculated precision and rarely leaves a digital footprint. “His long evasion shows how tech-savvy some criminals can be,” said a senior police officer.

Officials believe that there could be more victims who have yet to come forward, either out of fear or shame. Police urged anyone duped by Shaikh to contact their local station and help with the investigation.

Shaikh remains in custody and will face charges like theft, cheating, and criminal breach of trust. Authorities are also examining whether he had any accomplices or was working alone. The case has once again highlighted the vulnerability of elderly citizens and the urgent need for awareness and caution against such fraudsters.

As the probe continues, Mumbai police may launch awareness drives to help seniors spot fraud and report it quickly.

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