Panvel : A tense hostage situation unfolded last night at a residence in Mangla Niwas, Godse Ali, Panvel, when a man recently released on bail, Soban Babulal Mahato (35), allegedly took his own relatives hostage amid a property dispute. Armed with a machete and an axe, he held his elderly parents, his brother, and three young children at knife-point .
Upon receiving information about the incident, a police team led by Assistant Police Inspector Pragya Mundhe promptly arrived at the scene. They urged Mahato to surrender peacefully, but instead, he threatened the officers with violence. A fierce confrontation followed, during which constables Ravindra Pardhi, Madhav Shewale, and Sainath Mokal sustained injuries .
The situation escalated when Mahato threatened to kill a 16-year-old niece by placing the machete against her neck. In a courageous response, constable Samrat Daki and constable Sainath Mokal took decisive action. Despite the threat to their own lives, they managed to subdue Mahato and safely rescue all the hostages. Both officers were seriously injured during the operation and are currently undergoing treatment at the Sub-District Hospital in Panvel .
Soban Mahato was arrested under multiple charges, including several sections of the Indian Penal Code—109(1), 121(2), 127(2), 132, 135, 140(2), 332(b), 333, 351(2), 352—or weapons offenses under sections 4 and 25. The police also confiscated the machete and axe used in the attack. Sub-Inspector Nitin Thakre is overseeing the further investigation.
Summary:
Incident: Hostage-taking during a property dispute in Panvel, involving dangerous weapons.
Perpetrator: Soban Babulal Mahato—recently acquitted on bail; accused in a 2018 murder case.
Victims: His parents, brother, and three children, plus a 16-year-old niece.
Response: Courageous intervention by police—especially constables Daki and Mokal—resulted in the safe release of hostages.
Casualties: Several police officers injured; none of the hostages harmed.
Legal Action: Multiple IPC and arms charges filed; weapons seized; investigation ongoing.
