PM Modi event not linked to BKC mall breach, police say; 3 arrested

Mumbai: Three men have been arrested for allegedly forcing their way into a shopping mall in Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) while one of them was carrying a firearm, police said on Tuesday, clarifying that the incident was unrelated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled event in the area.

The clarification came after a 24-year-old man claiming to be a Prime Minister's Office (PMO) official and his armed 'bodyguard' had been detained at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in BKC ahead of Modi's event on Tuesday evening.

Police later clarified that the incident actually took place at Jio World Plaza in BKC on Monday and had no connection with the prime minister's programme.

According to a senior police official, the three suspects allegedly attempted to enter the upscale shopping mall in the commercial district. When stopped by security personnel, they allegedly showed a suspicious-looking government identity card, argued with the guards and forcibly entered the premises.

One of the men was carrying a firearm, police said.

Following a complaint from mall authorities, BKC Police registered an FIR under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to impersonating a public servant and unlawful entry while armed with a deadly weapon.

Police subsequently traced and arrested all three suspects.

"The incident took place on Monday at the shopping plaza. It was an isolated breach, and we have confirmed that the weapon involved is licensed. This matter is entirely unrelated to the Hon'ble Prime Minister's visit to Mumbai today," the senior police officer said.

The Mumbai Crime Branch is conducting a parallel probe to establish whether the identity card was genuine and determine the exact motive of the accused, officials said.