THREE PERSONS have been arrested in Mumbai for allegedly stealing valuables worth Rs 1.35 crore from the Pedder Road residence of Rohan Begani, an owner of Begani Jewels. The accused, domestic help Santosh Mukhiya and his associates Lalu Mohan Mukhiya and Phulo, were arrested on Friday and Saturday. Begani owns two flats at the Mount Unique building on Pedder Road. While he stayed on the third floor, his relative Kiran Begani stayed on the 11th floor along with his grandmother. Last week, Kiran had left for Australia, following which the theft was committed. The incident came to light on November 10 after the domestic helps in the apartment noticed that a room was locked from inside. The police were initially puzzled as despite the building being guarded by 25 security guards and 48 CCTV cameras, the burglars decamped with diamond jewellery. “We suspected that an insider was involved,” said a police officer. Along with domestic helps working in the 11th floor flat, labourers employed at the building were also questioned by the police. The police also scrutinised the CCTV cameras installed on Pedder Road. “We found a help, working at a neighbour’s flat standing and speaking to two people outside the building at 11.45 pm on November 8. Their movements were suspicious. So, we brought the help, Santosh, to the police station. During questioning, he confessed to the crime and was arrested,” said an officer. Santosh claimed that he worked as a domestic help in a 12th floor flat and was aware that Kiran Begani was out of town. He hatched a plan with his friends, Phulo and Lalu. The three hail from Darbhanga in Bihar. Later on Friday, Lalu was arrested from a flat of the Anand Darshan building on Pedder Road, where he worked as a driver. An officer said, “Santosh has claimed that Phulo and Lalu climbed up the bamboo scaffoldings to reach Begani’s flat, while he waited outside the building. Following the theft, some valuables were handed over to Santosh and Lalu, while Phulo took the rest.” On Saturday, Phulo was arrested from Darbhanga in Bihar. The police have recovered valuables worth Rs 7 lakh from Santosh and Lalu.
