Mumbai crime: Painters, carpenter steal jewellery worth Rs 30 lakh from house where they were working

The three accused, a carpenter and father-son painter duo, were hired for contractual work

The Kalachowki police have arrested a carpenter and father-son painter duo for stealing ornaments worth Rs 30 lakh from a house while they were hired for contractual work. Police said while carrying out work in one of the rooms, the accused stumbled upon a secret locker in the house, from which they stole the jewellery.

According to police, Devendra Bafna, 31, owns a jewellery shop and is a resident of Lalbaug. The painting and furniture work was being done at his house. Raju Sheikh, 23, who was hired for painting work, felt that a part of the wall was hollow. To check, he tried to break it with a piece of wood, but he was unable to do so.

The carpenter Bajrang Sharma drilled a hole in the wall and saw gold jewellery hidden in a secret compartment.

He, then, told his father Tahir Sheikh, 47, however, he was also unsuccessful. Tahir then approached Bajrang Sharma, who was doing the furniture work. Sharma drilled a hole in the wall and saw gold jewellery hidden in a compartment. He took out the jewellery and divided it among themselves.

A police officer said the colouring and furniture work had started in the house from January 4, when the mother of the complainant had gone to Rajasthan. After she returned, she opened the locker and found that the quantity of jewellery was less. Bafna then approached Kalachowkie police. An officer told mid-day, "After stealing jewellery, Raju painted the wall to avoid any suspicion, but that colour was not applied inside the locker. The officers also noticed some damages on the locker and its sliding door." "The three accused have been arrested and the stolen jewellery is being recovered," the officer added.

Senior police inspector Anand Mulay said, "The three accused have been given police remand till January 25 by the court."

Rs 30 lakh
Worth of jewellery stolen from the locker