3 hotels, held at gunpoint, Rs 2 crore robbed: Karnataka bizman kept captive in Thane for days; main accused arrested

THANE: Police have arrested a man for allegedly duping a Karnataka-based businessman into visiting Thane and robbing him of over Rs 2 crore at gunpoint, officials said to news agency PTI on Thursday. The incident occurred between December 15 and 18, 2025, when the victim, 31-year-old Shamantkumar Shadak Sharappa Karder, a businessman from Shimoga in Karnataka, was lured by a promise of investment in his firm. The main accused, 40-year-old Ankit Bapu Thombre of Manpada, Thane, allegedly held Karder captive in three different hotels during his stay. ACP (Crime) Madan Ballal of the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar police commissionerate said the accused threatened the businessman with a pistol, while an accomplice wielded a knife, and forced him to share his net banking ID and password. Using these details, the criminals carried out unauthorized online transactions amounting to Rs 2,17,63,287. The complaint was registered as an FIR on January 2, under sections including attempt to murder, wrongful confinement, and the Arms Act. Investigators said Thombre had tried to hide his identity using a mobile number from the United Kingdom, but police tracked him down and arrested him on January 6 from Shil Phata near Navi Mumbai. A sports utility vehicle (SUV) used in the crime was also seized. Police said the investigation is ongoing, and they are searching for the accomplices involved in the case.