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The Mumbai Police has arrested two domestic helps for allegedly stealing valuables and US currency notes worth Rs 28.4 lakh from a 42-year-old’s residence in Santacruz.
Police said the complainant, Rishi Khaturia, who is employed with a finance company, reported the incident at the Santacruz police station on October 20. The complainant’s wife allegedly noticed that valuables were missing from their residence, following which, a case was registered under Section 380 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code.
Kamal Waghe (28) was employed at the complainant’s residence a few months ago, as per police. Her alleged accomplice, Sneha Shripalli, helped her get employed at the complainant’s residence.
“Months after getting her employed, she (Shripalli) asked Waghe whether she would help steal cash and valuables from the house,” said a police officer.
Shripalli, who has a history of theft as per police sources, allegedly asked Waghe to leave the door open on a day when Khaturia would be out with his family. “Waghe was given a set of keys to their (her employers’) house. However, Shripalli didn’t enter the house using those keys as the family would suspect Waghe. On October 20, the family left the house to visit their relative. Waghe finished her work and left the door ajar for her accomplice to enter, following which Shripalli walked away with $2,500 as well as gold and diamond jewellery,” said the officer.
At night, when the complainant’s family returned, his wife found the valuables missing and approached the police station the same day.
“Khaturia has CCTV cameras installed in his residence, with the help of which Shripalli was identified. Simultaneously, we were interrogating Waghe but she did not reveal a word about her involvement,” said the officer.
On October 23, Shripalli was located at Santacruz railway station and brought to the police station for inquiry. Police sources said she confessed soon after the interrogation started. While checking Shripalli’s history, police discovered that she had earlier been arrested in a similar theft case by Mumbai Police in 2015, and had been released on bail later. She lives with her husband and two children in Nallasopara, they added.
“During her interrogation, Waghe’s role was identified, following which, she was also arrested,” added the officer.
When asked what share of the alleged stolen valuables Waghe received, police said the accused gave conflicting statements. “Shripalli said valuables and cash were given to Waghe but Waghe has been denying it,” said the officer.