Mumbai: Bollywood Baadshah Shah Rukh Khan’s birthday on Thursday, turned out to be a joyous occasion not only for the actor but also for thieves, who targeted the scores of fans that thronged the star’s bungalow in Bandra.
Acting on complaints from fans who had fallen victim to sticky fingers, the Bandra police on Friday registered around 30 cases of missing cell phones and wallets. The police is questioning repeat offenders in the vicinity, but is yet to zero in on the culprits.
The actor ushered in his birthday at his Alibaug farmhouse. However, ignorant of this fact, Khan’s fans, who hail from various corners of the country, had been waiting outside his residence ‘Mannat’ since late Wednesday night.
However, awareness about the thefts dawned on the crowds shortly after a black sedan had entered Mannat’s premises. To get a glimpse of the star, the fans had rushed to the gates.
However, as soon as it was established that it was a false alarm, people started shouting that their phones and wallets were missing.
One of the complainants, Rajkumar Sharma (28), a resident of Hyderabad, told The Asian Age, “I had come all the way here to wish my favourite superstar on his birthday, but as it turns out I am the one who got a gift, by getting robbed.”
Another fan, who did not wished to named, told this paper, “My wallet was stolen with Rs 5,000 in cash inside. My debit card, Aadhaar Card and PAN card have also been stolen. I’ve been left penniless.”
Pandit Nivrutti Thackeray, senior police inspector of Bandra police station said, “We have received over 30 cases of mobile and wallet thefts, and the number is likely to rise by midnight. The crowd is still present waiting to get a glimpse of Shah Rukh.”
Police informers have been asked to stay on alert and report any persons behaving suspiciously near the scene of the crime.
