NRI’s Rs 11.5-lakh jewellery goes missing from hotel room

A non-resident Indian based in the United States, who had come down for Moharram, was shocked to find more than Rs 11 lakh missing from her room in a five-star hotel in Andheri (East), reports HT Correspondent.

A non-resident Indian based in the United States, who had come down for Moharram, was shocked to find more than Rs 11 lakh missing from her room in a five-star hotel in Andheri (East).

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According to the Andheri police, Alifa Eunice Rassiwalla had arrived in Mumbai about 10 days ago along with a large group. She was put up in room 409 of the Imperial Palace Hotel.

“The woman kept the main and duplicate keys with her before going out for the day. Usually, she left between 8 am and 9 pm,” said Senior Inspector Shivajirao Deshmukh of Andheri police station.

However, when Rassiwalla returned to her room on Saturday, she found gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 11.5 lakh missing.

Rassiwalla then approached the Andheri police and lodged a first information report.

“Preliminary inquiries with a few hotel employees have given us a few clues which we have been following,” said Deshmukh.

“No hotel holds itself accountable for valuables which are not declared,” said Shailesh Kadam, the manager of the hotel.

“Of the 25 rooms in our hotel, 14 had been rented by the group that had arrived along with Rassiwala. Our hotel also has a safe for such valuables. The safe is available on request. Both keys to the room were with the woman when she stepped out. It is impossible for anyone to have gotten in or out of the room.”

The police are also investigating whether it is possible that Rassiwalla has inadvertently misplaced the jewellery.

A case of theft and house trespass has been registered under the Indian Penal Code against unidentified persons.