Mumbai News: Attempted MTNL Cable Theft Foiled in Near Vakola; Employee And Scrap Dealer Booked

An attempted theft of MTNL cables in Mumbai was thwarted thanks to the vigilance of senior MTNL officers and union members. A complaint has been filed against an MTNL employee and a scrap dealer in connection with the incident at Vakola police station. Subsequently, the police registered the case against four individuals on June 3 and  MTNL employee, Anil Malusare, was detained.

According to the FIR, Sanjay Pathare, 56, Deputy General Manager (DGM) at MTNL, stated that around 3:15 a.m. on June 3, he received a call from General Manager Sawle, informing him of suspected cable theft near Vakola on Nehru Road. Acting on the tip-off, Pathare rushed to the location.

Earlier, Union President Mukse and union member Dilip Jadhav had also received information that MTNL cables were being cut using a JCB machine (registration number MH-04-LH-3161) near P&T Colony on Nehru Road and loaded into a tempo (MH-48-BM-4542). Upon reaching the spot, union members questioned the workers, but no work authorization was produced. At that point, the laborers and the JCB driver reportedly fled the scene. However, the tempo and an MTNL employee, Anil Malusare, were detained.

Upon arriving at the Vakola police station, DGM Pathare was shown a work permission letter dated June 2, signed by MTNL duty manager Ritesh Pratap. However, an inspection revealed that the cable had already been transported and deposited at MTNL’s Vakola warehouse, raising further suspicion. DGM Pathare alleged that this was a clear attempt at theft involving MTNL employee Anil Malusare and a local scrap dealer.