Rajasthan bizman's wife held hostage, Rs 1cr looted; 4 arrested

JAISALMER: Daylight robbery took place in the prominent Bhatia Mohalla area, where four miscreants targeted a businessman’s residence, police said.

The accused barged into the house, held the businessman’s wife hostage in a room, tied her up, taped her mouth, and threatened her at knifepoint. They looted approximately Rs 1 crore worth of gold (around 50 tolas), silver jewellery, and cash from the house.

Superintendent of Police Abhishek Shivhare, addressing a press conference on Monday, said that in swift police action, all four accused were arrested within three hours during naka-bandi (blockade). The stolen jewellery and cash have been fully recovered.

During the investigation, police found that a domestic help employed at the house, Meenu alias Binali, along with her live-in partner Deepak Dulagaj and three others, had planned and carried out the crime. One more woman is being questioned, and further investigation is ongoing. One of the accused, Deepak, is a resident of Punjabi Colony, GTB Nagar, near Panchayati Gurudwara in Sion Koliwada, Mumbai.

Police said they received information at Kotwali police station that unidentified persons had held a woman hostage at knifepoint, taped her mouth, and looted jewellery and cash from a house in Bhatia Pada. Acting immediately, SHO Surjaram and DST in-charge Bhimrao Singh reached the spot and informed senior officers.

Considering the seriousness of the case, SP Shivhare, along with Circle Officer Roopsingh Inda, inspected the scene and formed multiple police teams, assigning them specific tasks. All station house officers across the district, especially those from Lathi and Pokaran police stations, were instructed to set up strict naka-bandi to nab the accused.

The FSL team examined the crime scene, and blockades were set up across the district and nearby areas. Routes used by the accused to enter and exit the city were also identified.

The complainant, Damyanti Bhatia (56), said she was upstairs around noon when she heard a cupboard being opened downstairs. When she went down to check, she was dragged into a room. The accused taped her mouth, tied her hands and feet, and one of them held a knife to her throat while the others looted valuables and packed them into a bag.

The victim told police that the accused acted cleverly, even removing her spectacles before leaving so she could not clearly see their faces. After they fled, she managed to crawl to the door and call for help. Neighbours, Deepa and Chandrakala Bhatia, heard her and came to her aid, untied her, and removed the tape.

During naka-bandi, police from Lathi police station apprehended four accused along with the stolen property. After questioning, Kotwali police formally arrested three accused, while the fourth, Deepak, was arrested separately with his share of the stolen items.

Further investigation confirmed that the domestic help had orchestrated the entire crime with her associates. Police said the accused have a criminal background, and their past records are being verified.