Mumbai: Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar is set to retire on April 30 after completing his service. Over his three-year tenure, the city largely maintained law and order effectively, although certain crimes showed an upward trend while others declined.
In January 2025, 25 In February 19 and In March 25 extortion cases were registered, of which 15, 11 and 18 were detected respectively. This marked an increase compared to January, February, Maech 2024, when 15, 44, 66 cases respectively were reported and 9, 36 and 49 were solved respectively.
The number of thefts also saw a dip, with 494, 438, 465 cases recorded in January, February and March 2025 and 144, 118 and 98 solved. In contrast, January, February and March 2024 saw 801, 1852 and 2793 theft cases, out of which 207, 484 and 790 were detected.
As for crimes against women, 231, 190, 246 cases of molestation were registered in January, February and March 2025, with 184, 157 and 190 detections respectively. This is a rise from January 2024, which had 184 cases and 152 detections. In February and March 2024 registered 353 and 585 Cases and detected 310 and 515 cases respectively.
In January, February and March 2025, 126, 100 and 131 kidnapping cases involving women were registered, with 82, 67 and 91 detected. This shows a rise from January, February and March 2024, which had 89, 188 and 131 cases Registered, with 64, 159 and 91 detections.
Cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act also increased. In January, February and March 2025, 38, 190 and 248 rape cases under POCSO were filed, with 33, 157 and 194 solved, compared to 30 cases and 28 detections in January 2024.
In February and March 2024, 353 and 88 cases Registered, out of 310 and 57 cases solved respectively. Similarly, for molestation under POCSO, 63, 67 and 585 cases were registered this year in January, February and March with 54, 40 and 515 detections, compared to 61, 108 and 167 cases in this year January, February and march and 55, 90 and 149 detections last year January, February and March respectively.
Phansalkar’s tenure has seen Mumbai Police respond effectively to many serious crimes, though the rising numbers in specific categories indicate ongoing challenges in urban policing.
