Mumbai man robs 77-year-old woman at knifepoint for ‘defaming’ him, arrested

According to the Malad police, Joshi met the 77-year-old victim, who lives in the Sunder Nagar area of Malad (West), at a programme organised for senior citizens, and the two had been in touch with each other since then.

The police said that the woman’s husband died two decades ago, after which she started running a paying guest facility for young women at her house and tuition classes.

“Feeling lonely, the woman started attending senior citizens’ programmes for the past two years and came into contact with Joshi. The two exchanged mobile numbers. Both often chat with each other in the programme venues. Last month, Joshi rang up the woman and said he would visit her place for tea as he was coming in the same vicinity,” said a police officer.

The accused started arguing with her at her house, stating that she had been making defamatory statements about his character, the officer said.

He then held out his knife and took her gold ornaments worth Rs 3.5 lakh, added the officer. Joshi again threatened the victim with dire consequences and demanded Rs 5 lakh from her.

During interrogation, Joshi confessed that he had sold the ornaments to a jeweller, and the police are in the process of recovering the gold.

The police launched an investigation based on the woman’s complaint on September 11.

“Initially, we were suspicious because they knew each other, and she did not even inform the women staying in her house as paying guests, not even the security guards. But after the inquiry, it was confirmed that the incident was true and her gold ornaments had been stolen,” said Dushyant Chavan, senior inspector of the Malad police station.

On learning about the police inquiry, Joshi had applied for anticipatory bail, but was rejected, the police said.

“The accused is married and has children, but he did not live at his residence, Chavan added.

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