A daylight theft at a residential complex in Wadala East has raised serious concerns over safety in housing societies after a newly hired domestic help allegedly stole gold and diamond-studded jewellery worth around ₹65 lakh from a businessman’s flat and fled.
According to police, the complainant, Abhishek Agrawal (33), is associated with a steel processing company based in Khopoli, Raigad. He lives with his wife and his parents at Wadala.
As per the complaint, after their earlier domestic help left for his native place, the family employed one Raju Bhavesh on January 12, 2026, on the recommendation of a relative of Agrawal’s mother-in-law. Trusting the reference, the family did not conduct a detailed background verification and allowed him to stay in the flat. For the first two days, his behaviour appeared normal and raised no suspicion.
On January 14, Agrawal had gone to the airport to drop his parents, who were travelling to Jaipur, while his wife was at her bakery shop. Around 12.30 pm onwards, the domestic help was the only person present in the flat. When Agrawal returned home at around 7.55 pm, he found the flat deserted and the domestic help missing.
On checking CCTV footage, it was found that at around 6.18 pm, Raju was seen leaving the flat carrying clothes and a bulging bag. He did not return thereafter. Upon inspection, the family found that three out of four cupboards in the parents’ bedroom had been broken open. The digital locker and the drawer beneath it were also found forcibly opened.
Gold and diamond-studded necklaces, mangalsutras, chokers, chains, bangles, bracelets, a tennis bracelet, diamond watches and silver coins were found missing. Police said the stolen jewellery weighed approximately 1,138.34 grams, while the silver coins weighed around 30 grams. The total value of the stolen articles has been estimated at about ₹65 lakh.
The accused’s mobile phone was switched off after 6.24 pm. CCTV footage showed no entry of any other person inside the flat during the relevant period, indicating that the theft was carried out by the domestic help alone.
Wadala Police have registered a case against accused Raju Bhavesh under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provisions related to theft and criminal breach of trust. Efforts are on to trace his location and verify his possible hideouts, while jewellery markets are also being alerted as part of the investigation.