The Kurla GRP (Government Railway Police) on Monday have arrested a 68-year-old woman, a member of an all-women gang that stole from passengers travelling on long-distance trains. The accused, identified as Lakshmibai Jadhav, was arrested for having stolen valuables worth ₹2.81 lakh of a woman commuter at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT).
The incident took place on July 16 when Elsy Varghese, 40, a resident of Powai, boarded Netravati Express from LTT. While the victim was busy arranging her luggage, the accused managed to steal her bag containing jewellery worth ₹2.81 lakh. Half an hour before her journey could start, Varghese realised that her bag had been stolen and immediately alerted the GRP officials before leaving for Kurla.
"Since the complainant couldn't visit the police station due to personnel reasons we registered a First Information Report (FIR) based on her email complaint and began our investigation. After scrutinising CCTV footages of the platform, three women became our prime suspects," said Smita Dhakne, senior inspector of Kurla GRP.
During the course of the investigation, GRP officials managed to trace Jadhav to Solapur and recovered 52 grams of gold jewellery worth ₹2 lakh, added Dhakne. The police have also seized gold jewellery melting machine from her possession while are two associates Shantibai Gaikwad (65) and Renuka Jadhav (60) are also residents of the same village in Solapur. However, as police arrested Jadhav, the other two fled from their village, said police.
"Both Jadhav and Gaikwad, have previous cases registered against them in Mumbai. However, the police suspect the gang have committed similar offences across the country, said a GRP official.
