22-year-old held for attacking taxi driver, stealing his car, mobile in Mumbai

Kalsekar told the taxi driver, identified as Dinesh Kumar Sonkar, (AGE) to take him to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation building at Belapur where he had to pick up two friends, and later proceed to another venue to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

A 22-year-old man who threatened a taxi driver at knifepoint, assaulted him and then stole his car, mobile and money was arrested by Sion police on Monday.

Representative

The accused, Akshay Arvind Kalsekar, a criminal history-sheeter from Dharavi, had boarded the taxi from Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Sion on April 15 at around 12.30am. Kalsekar was accompanied by a friend who is a minor, said Sion police officers.

Kalsekar told the taxi driver, identified as Dinesh Kumar Sonkar, (AGE) to take him to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation building at Belapur where he had to pick up two friends, and later proceed to another venue to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

After they reached Belapur, two of his friends, one of whom has been identified as Akshay Goswami got into the taxi. At one location in Navi Mumbai, one of the passengers got down and the three others kept the taxi driver waiting for nearly an hour.

“When Sonkar questioned Kalsekar about the delay, he and his friends started assaulting him. They then made Sonkar sit on the back seat where he was assaulted further,” said Lalita Gaikwad, senior inspector, Sion police station.

Sonkar then registered a complaint at Sion police station. “We have arrested Kalsekar on May 13 and he is in police custody till May 17. The taxi has also been recovered,” said Gaikwad.

Pradeep Salekar, assistant police inspector, said that Kaleskar had been booked in the past for mobile and car theft at Dadar and Dharavi police stations. “We are looking for the three others, including the minor,” added Salekar.