Actress's help held for Rs 1 lakh theft

MUMBAI: A domestic help of veteran film and TV actress Shubha Khote (82) was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly stealing Rs1.5 lakh from her

Juhu

flat. The accused, Yogiraj Pujary (28), has confessed to stealing the cash, the police claimed.

An officer from Juhu police station said that Khote had recently told Pujary to get Rs 1 lakh from the bank to pay salaries of her domestic workers besides using it for miscellaneous expenses.

"We questioned her workers. Pujary's inconsistent replies raised our suspicion," said the officer. Khote police complaint says: "Of cash in the cupboard, Rs 1.5 lakh was missing..."

The police said that Pujary reported to work all along so as not to arouse suspicion. "Khote stays alone. And Pujary managed to remove the cash without being noticed by her or other staff. He has been sent to police custody till April 20.

The veteran actress was a national swimming and cycling champion in between 1952 and 1955.