MUMBAI, May 19 -- A magistrate's court in Girgaon sentenced five men to one year of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs.5,000 each for stealing mobile phones during Ganesh immersion festivities in 2024. The order, issued last week, marked the first conviction in Mumbai under section 112 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which specifically addresses petty organised crime - a new category introduced in the revised criminal code. Section 112 defines petty organised crime as theft, snatching, cheating, and similar offences committed by a group or gang in an organised manner. The case was registered after a 39-year-old man, Baser Shaikh, reported that his phone stolen amid the crowded immersion processions on September 20, 2024. As the day progressed, multiple people approached the VP Road police with similar complaints. Deputy commissioner of police Mohit Kumar Garg (Zone 2) formed a special investigation team that combed through CCTV footage from Girgaon Chowpatty and surrounding areas. The team traced several suspects across Maharashtra and Gujarat and brought to Mumbai for questioning. Eventually, five individuals were arrested: Sanjay Raman Kharwa, Sanjay Suresh Kharwa, Sumesh Rajendra Lohkare, Laltu Tunu De, and Akash Vijay Mehra. The gang had allegedly stolen 42 mobile phones and a two-wheeler, all of which were recovered by the police. "This is a landmark case, being the first conviction under section 112 of the BNS in Mumbai. It underscores the law's intent to clamp down on organised petty crimes that disrupt public order, especially during large events," said DCP Garg....