Teen maid steals to fund wedding

A 19-year-old maid allegedly stole valuables worth Rs 2.5 lakh from her employer’s Dadar house because she needed money to get married.

A 19-year-old maid allegedly stole valuables worth Rs 2.5 lakh from her employer’s Dadar house because she needed money to get married.

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Sujata Mahagade and her boyfriend Chand Shaikh (20), who were arrested on Thursday, allegedly confessed to the crime.

Tax consultant Prashant Chafekar (37) had hired Mahagade last year.

He filed a police complaint on Wednesday.

“On February 22, when the Chafekars were getting ready for a function they found some valuables missing,” said Sub-Inspector M.B. Dabholkar.

The police said Mahagade and Shaikh had been planning the theft for two months.

Mahagade knew her mother would not give her consent for marriage because Shaikh is from a different community.

“She could not elope with Shaikh because he was unemployed. He then suggested that Mahagade rob her employers so that they could raise money for their wedding,” said Sub- Inspector Shashikant Yadav,

The Chafekars also contacted Mahagade’s earlier employers. “They found out that valuables had gone missing from their residences when they had employed her and suspected her,” added Yadav.

During interrogation, Mahagade confessed to have stolen the valuables and handing them over to Shaikh.

“Ninety per cent of the stolen property has been recovered,” said Dabholkar.