Employee loots jewellery shop, runs away with CCTV footage

Mumbai: A 22-year-old native of Rajasthan, Jitu Purohit, allegedly drugged his employer, Anita Bafna, and stole jewellery worth Rs 35 lakh along with Rs 20,000 in cash from the jewellery store owned by the latter in Borivali (west) Monday night.

The accused allegedly also took with him the DVR machine that records CCTV footage to keep the police at bay. The incident occurred Monday night when Anita’s husband, Ramesh, had gone to his native place delegating the responsibility of the shop to his wife and Purohit. Borivali police has sent a team to Rajasthan to nab Purohit which is likely to make the arrest soon.

According to police sources attached to Borivali police station, Purohit started working for the Bafnas, who owned Bhairunath Jewellers in Gorai, over a month-and-a-half ago. On Sunday, when the main owner Ramesh Bafna was travelling to Rajasthan for some personal work, Purohit hatched a plan to loot the jewellery and flee the place. To be able to execute his plan, Purohit laced the food prepared on Sunday night with a sleep-inducing drug which was consumed by Anita.

Vikram Deshmane, DCP zone 11, told The Asian Age, “We have sent a team to Rajasthan to nab the accused who used to work as a servant in the victim’s house. We are likely to make the arrest soon. The accused also took the DVR machine that records CCTV footage.”

A police source added that the accused used to sleep on the terrace, but on Sunday night, he slept in the jewellery shop.