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Former Thane mayor and Shiv Sena leader Anant Tare's mobile phone and wallet were allegedly stolen by an unidentified person here.
Tare was distributing blankets and shawls to the needy at Meenatai Thackeray chowk in the city yesterday afternoon when the theft took place, Rabodi police station's senior inspector Kashinath Chavan said.
Somebody took advantage of the crowd and stole Tare's mobile phone worth around Rs 40,000 and wallet containing about Rs 8,000 cash, he said.
A case has been registered under section 379 (theft) of IPC, he said, adding that probe was on into the matter.
Every year on September 6, Tare undertakes the activity of distributing items to the needy.
Thane's Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde, local MP Rajan Vichare and Mayor Sanjay More were present at the function where the alleged theft took place, police added.
