Mumbai: 1 week into job, help steals Rs. 2.76 lakh from senior citizens

According to the Sion police, the complainant, Gopikrishna Ramkisandas Dalmiya, 77, and his 70-year-old wife had hired the man just a week ago.

A 19-year-old house help fled with valuables and cash worth Rs 2.76 lakh from an elderly couple’s flat in Chunabhatti on Tuesday.

According to the Sion police, the complainant, Gopikrishna Ramkisandas Dalmiya, 77, and his 70-year-old wife had hired the man just a week ago.

“The elderly couple live alone. They have four daughters, who are married, and their son lives in Dubai,” said Yeshudas Gorde, senior inspector, Sion police station.

The accused, Gangadhar Ajay Sethi, who is from Orissa, was hired on January 6 to do all the household work. The couple did not suspect anything, as he was very efficient, the police said. However, Sethi was aware that there was jewellery and cash kept in a cupboard in one of the bedrooms.

Around 9.30am on Tuesday, Sethi came to work and started cleaning the floor. “The couple was sitting in the living room. He suddenly told them that he had to leave as he had to get his phone talk-time recharged,” said Gorde.

The couple got suspicious when Sethi did not return even after an hour. “The woman then checked for her keys and found them missing. She went to the bedroom and found the cupboard open,” said Gorde.

The police said Rs 50,000 cash and jewellery were stolen. “The complainant had kept Sethi’s photo ID. We are investigating whose references Sethi had given to couple,” the police said.