Maids drugged and robbed 65-year-old

The two accused spiked the senior citizen's tea, and looted her home of valuables worth Rs 16 lakh
More than a month after robbing a senior citizen of valuables worth Rs 16 lakh, two maids, identified as Hasina Dandu (22) and Sharifa Durio (21), were arrested at Kalyan yesterday.

They had absconded with the booty on August 15, but were traced with the help of Dandu's mobile number.

The maids, Hasina Dandu and Sharifa Durio, were arrested at Kalyan yesterday. They had absconded with the booty on August 15, but were traced with the help of Dandu's mobile number

According to the Versova police, 65-year-old Malvinder Singh Gulati and her husband paid a visit to the watchman's cabin at their Versova building on August 14, in order to enquire if he knew of a trustworthy maid they could hire.

Dandu, who overheard the conversation, approached Gulati, and introducing herself as Sheetal, offered her services as domestic help, claiming that she also worked at a nearby residence.

Gulati agreed immediately, and took her up to her flat, without bothering to register her name and details with the security guard.

Sheetal completed the chores assigned to her and left the premises. An unsuspecting Gulati, satisfied with the quality of work, didn't bother to run a background check on her.

The following day, Sheetal phoned Gulati, enquiring if she could come to work. "Gulati answered the phone and asked her to come over," said Sharad Bodke, senior inspector of Versova police station.

When Sheetal arrived, Gulati was alone at home. "Sheetal brought a friend along, introducing her as Manisha.

When Gulati enquired why she had brought along company, she replied that her companion would help her with the housework, as she had chores pending at other houses as well. Gulati consented, and went to the bedroom to rest," said Bodke.

After a while, Sheetal asked if she could make herself some tea, and Gulati asked for a cup as well. As soon as she drank the tea, however, Gulati fell unconscious. It was then that the two accused robbed valuables worth Rs 16 lakh from the apartment and fled.

"When Gulati's husband came home and found his wife unconscious, he called up the police and informed them about the incident," added Bodke.

Nabbed
In course of investigations, cops recovered the mobile number from which Sheetal had called Gulati prior to the theft. They then traced the number to Kalyan, and arrested the two women.

Dandu and Durio have been remanded in police custody till September 26.