Two Held For Robbing Sr Citizen

Published on 07/10/09

The Malabar Hill police on Tuesday arrested two persons and claimed to have solved a robbery where the suspects had gagged a 72-year-old
widow and fled with gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 13.3 lakh on Saturday.

Those arrested were identified as Rajesh alias Digha (21) and Rajkumar Mukhiya (20). They have been remanded to police custody till October 13. "We have recovered the jewellery in three days," said additional commissioner of police R K Padmanabhan.

According to the police, on Saturday, between 10.30 am and 11.30 am, the victim, Kuldeep Bhatia, was alone at home. She resides on the second floor of the Mansarovar Building on Mt Pleasant Road near Sahyadri guest house. The accused did not use any weapon and fled with the booty. Two unidentified men had entered the house forcefully. "Several flats in the building are under repair, so labourers come and go on a regular basis. This was the reason why the watchman could not keep track of them. The accused took advantage of it," said senior inspector Iqbal Shaikh.

On the day of robbery, the two accused forcibly entered the flat and gagged Bhatia with a dupatta. Later, the two accused made the woman sit under the dining table and broke open a cupboard and stole jewellery worth Rs 13.3 lakh and fled. Bhatia then called the watchman through intercom, but it was too late.