Gang of servants held for theft

The police have arrested Navin Kashinath (40), a domestic help in Malabar Hill, for training six others from the area to rob, reports Megha Sood.

He was a part-time servant — and a full-time crime consultant.

HT Image

The police have arrested Navin Kashinath (40), a domestic help in Malabar Hill, for training six others from the area to rob.

The seven men have been charged with stealing diamond jewellery worth Rs 4.6 lakh from a businessman’s house on January 6.

While chatting after the day’s chores, Kashinath had trained the six servants — all in their early 20s — to rob from their employers’ houses without getting caught.

“These servants, who worked in different houses in the upmarket area, used to meet at Hanging Gardens in the evenings. There, Kashinath, who was most experienced, trained the rest,” said Senior Police Inspector Iqbal Sheikh.

“Kashinath gathered information about the wealth at their employers’ houses and decided to rob businessman Kuku Bhojwani’s house,” said Sheikh, adding that Kashinath had guided them to rob while mopping or sweeping.

On January 6, Rohit Kewal (21) and Subhash Chavan (20), who had been working for Bhojwani for two years, allegedly stole diamond rings, earrings and bangles from his house and handed the loot over to Kashinath.

“Kashinath sold the jewellery to Chandan Mangal (20) and Sushil Vaidya (24). He gave Kewal and Chavan just Rs 8,000 instead of the promised half, saying he had to give the police their share,” said Sheikh. The police arrested Kewal and Chavan on January 7.

“It was difficult to trace Kashinath as he never worked in any house more than 15 days,” said Sheikh.