Businessman Rajesh Kumar Singh was a happy man, having sold off his sixth-floor flat at Natraj building, Mulund. The deal was sealed on Monday, and Singh had even received a part payment of Rs14 lakh in cash.
So, in the evening on Monday, the entire family went out to dinner. They came home content after a sumptuous meal, but moments after, their world came crashing down when they found the main door ajar and Rs14 lakh gone from the cupboard locker.
“It seems to be a handiwork of the Singhs close relatives,” building watchman Eknath Surve said. His doubt was confirmed when police arrested Vishnu Tiwari, cousin of Singh’s wife Poonam.
Santosh Kadam, the night watchman, saw three of Singh’s relatives, including Tiwari, entering the building soon after the family went out to dinner on Monday evening.
“But they were not challenged as the robbery came to light only after the Singhs returned home,” said Surve. “Also, they
used to visit the family often.”
A complaint of robbery and housebreaking has been lodged with Mulund police, who picked up some of Singh’s relatives for questioning. Dattaray Karale, DCP (Zone VII), said that the burglars had entered Singh’s flat using duplicate keys.
They knew exactly where the money was kept and had little trouble in escaping. The robbery took place between 7pm and 11pm.
The incident has left the Singhs devastated. They have handed over the flat keys to the buyer and have also lost the money.
