Garba dispute assault in Mumbai's Malad: 3 arrested, main accused absconding
Synopsis
A Garba celebration dispute in Mumbai's Malad West turned violent on 16 October when four men allegedly broke into an auto-rickshaw driver's home and beat him with an iron rod and bamboo sticks. Three accused are in custody; the primary suspect, Ajay Kashyap, remains at large as police intensify the hunt amid heightened festive-season security.
Key Takeaways
Sanjay Dubey (43) , an auto-rickshaw driver, was attacked at his home in Ambujwadi, Malad West, Mumbai on 16 October at around 10:30 pm .
The assault allegedly stemmed from a dispute over stopping a Garba event near a Durga Mata temple .
Four accused — Ajay Kashyap , Salam , Rehan Akbar Sheikh (18) , and Mazar Azhar Sheikh (21) — allegedly entered Dubey's house forcibly and attacked him with an iron rod and bamboo sticks .
Three of the four accused have been arrested; Ajay Kashyap , identified as the main accused, remains absconding.
A case has been registered under Sections 118(1), 115(2), 333, 352 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) .
Police have increased security in the area to prevent further incidents during the festive season.
Three men have been arrested and one remains at large after auto-rickshaw driver Sanjay Dubey (43) was allegedly attacked with an iron rod and bamboo sticks at his home in Ambujwadi, Malad West, Mumbai, following a dispute over the stopping of a Garba celebration near a Durga Mata temple. The incident occurred on 16 October at around 10:30 pm, according to the Malvani Police.
How the Attack Unfolded
Dubey was sitting inside his residence when the four accused allegedly forced their way in, verbally abused him, and then assaulted him, leaving him injured. Police said the assault was a direct fallout of a disagreement over halting Garba festivities being held in front of the Durga Mata temple in the locality. The complainant's account formed the basis of the First Information Report (FIR) lodged with the Malvani Police Station.
Accused Identified, Main Suspect on the Run
The four accused have been identified as Ajay Kashyap, Salam, Rehan Akbar Sheikh (18), and Mazar Azhar Sheikh (21). While three of the four have been taken into custody, the primary accused, Ajay Kashyap, is currently absconding. Police search operations are actively underway to trace and apprehend him. Investigators are also examining the criminal backgrounds of all the accused as part of the ongoing probe.
Charges Filed Under BNS
A case has been registered against the accused under Sections 118(1), 115(2), 333, 352, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These provisions pertain to voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, assault, and acts committed by a group in furtherance of a common intention. The shift to BNS — India's overhauled criminal code — marks a procedural update from the erstwhile Indian Penal Code framework.
Security Heightened for Festive Season
Officials confirmed that security has been stepped up in the Malvani area to prevent a recurrence of such incidents during the ongoing festive period. This comes amid a broader pattern of communal sensitivities around Navratri and Garba celebrations in urban pockets of Maharashtra, where disputes over public space and festive access have occasionally turned violent. Authorities say they are treating the matter seriously given the context and the timing.
Point of View
But this case carries added sensitivity given its communal undertones and the Navratri context. The fact that the primary accused remains at large despite swift arrests of the others suggests either prior warning or local networks of concealment — both of which investigators must address. The filing of charges under the new BNS framework, rather than the old IPC, is procedurally significant and will test how courts interpret the overhauled code in street-level criminal matters. Crucially, the police response to festive-season violence sets a precedent: whether authorities act with equal urgency regardless of who the victim or accused is will define the credibility of law enforcement during this period.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Garba dispute assault in Mumbai's Malad?
Auto-rickshaw driver Sanjay Dubey (43) was allegedly attacked with an iron rod and bamboo sticks by four men who forcibly entered his home in Ambujwadi, Malad West, Mumbai on 16 October at around 10:30 pm. The assault reportedly followed a dispute over stopping a Garba event near a Durga Mata temple.
Who are the accused in the Malad Garba assault case?
The four accused are Ajay Kashyap, Salam, Rehan Akbar Sheikh (18), and Mazar Azhar Sheikh (21). Three have been arrested; Ajay Kashyap, identified as the main accused, is currently absconding and is being actively traced by the Malvani Police.
What charges have been filed in the Malad assault case?
The Malvani Police have registered a case under Sections 118(1), 115(2), 333, 352, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which covers voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, assault, and acts committed collectively in furtherance of a common intention.
Why is security being increased in Malad after the Garba assault?
Police officials confirmed that security has been stepped up in the Malvani area to prevent any repeat incidents during the ongoing festive season. The Garba dispute took place close to Navratri celebrations, a period when community tensions over public space and festive access can be heightened.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Three accused have been arrested and the Malvani Police are conducting search operations to nab the absconding primary accused, Ajay Kashyap. Investigators are also looking into the criminal backgrounds of all four accused as part of the ongoing probe.
