08 February,2022 08:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish Vaktania
The accused Clarence Pereira
The Khar police arrested the land sharks, who illegally grabbed the multi-crore bungalow of a woman in Khar, from Goa on Sunday night. They had filed an FIR against the accused, Clarence Pereira, alias Peter, and Nilima Deshmukh, only after mid-day's persistent reports since November. Next, they are expected to take custody of the property. The duo had been hopping from one hotel to another in Goa after the Khar police registered the FIR, to evade arrest.
Police said they will now record the statement of the Thane Mental Hospital's staff and examine if they were involved in the release of Marietta Fernandes and in handing over her custody to accused Peter.
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On January 31, Khar police registered an FIR against Peter and Deshmukh, and learnt that they were both living in Bandstand, Bandra, and started locating them. As per the law, police can't arrest the accused before 72 hours of registering the FIR. Six teams of Khar police were formed to follow them in plainclothes.
On February 3, as the 72 hours ended, both the accused escaped from Bandra and hid at a Goa guest house. They frequently changed the hotels to avoid arrest,
police said.
Police had also found that Peter had applied for anticipatory bail at sessions court in Dindoshi in November, but it wasn't granted. On February 5, Peter again applied for anticipatory bail at Dindoshi sessions court and the hearing was scheduled for Monday. However, Khar police arrested the duo from Labamba Guest house at Calangute, Goa, before the court hearing.
The Khar police and Calangute police arrested them. They were brought to Mumbai on Monday morning, and produced before the Bandra holiday court, which sent the duo to police custody till February 10.
Senior Inspector Mohan Mane said, "Marietta gave her complaint in November to Khar police station and demanded justice in the case of her ancestral multi-crore bungalow at Chuim Village in Khar Danda. We started an in-depth inquiry and found that her bungalow had been grabbed by Peter and Deshmukh, and they were also involved in releasing her from Thane Mental Hospital. We took DCP Manjunath Singe's permission and registered the FIR on January 31."
"Police Inspector (PI) Sandip Patil and other cops had followed them around Goa hotels, and found that they were changing hotels daily," Mane said.
"Now, we are checking the involvement of Thane Mental Hospital and others in this case. The hospital staff's statement will be recorded and if we find any involvement, we will arrest them.
We also found that Peter's daughter visited the Khar bungalow daily. We will take action against more people in this case. We will also file a notice under Section 145 CrPC through the ACP to take the bungalow in our possession. It will be handed over to its rightful owner. Now, we are scanning all the documents that Peter forged to grab the bungalow," Mane added.
"The police's action against the accused has given us hope that the wrong done will be corrected," said Cornel, Marietta's brother-in-law.
March 26, 2020: Marietta's mother Yvonne Fernandes dies at the Khar Bungalow
November 20, 2020: Police find the skeleton of Yvonne Fernandes in the bungalow
November 27, 2020: Khar police admit Marietta Fernandes to Thane Mental Hospital.
April 29, 2021: Peter (accused in the case) discharges Marietta from the hospital by posing as Marietta's uncle.
The same day Peter takes Marietta to the TDR building at Bahar Signal Pasiwada, Andheri, along with his friend Nilima Deshmukh and his daughter Racheal Pereira
May 22, 2021: Peter takes Marietta to Khar police station to take the bungalow back in Marietta's possession. He promises to help her get back the bungalow which is sealed by the Khar police
May 25, 2021: Khar police give the bungalow keys to Marietta in the presence of Peter, who tells cops that he is a caretaker
On the same day, Peter takes bungalow keys from Marietta on the pretext of cleaning it. Later, Peter along with Nilima Deshmukh steal a television, refrigerator, gold, property documents and other valuables, collectively worth R20 lakh, from the bungalow
September 16, 2021: The room agreement gets expired and Marietta is shifted to Nilima's sister Naina's residence for three days
September 19, 2021: Peter takes Marietta to his cousin's wife Elvy Pereira's residence at Sahar Village, Vile Parle East
September 24, 2021: Marietta is taken to a hotel and Peter forcefully makes her sign documents. However, Marietta gives false signatures on documents.
The same day Peter tries pushing Marietta from a running auto, but she is saved
January 1, 2022: Khar police register FIR against Peter and co-accused Nilima Deshmukh
February 6, 2022: Peter and Deshmukh are arrested at a hotel in Goa hotel.
February 7, 2022: Police get them to Mumbai and produce them before a holiday court. They are remanded in police custody till February 10.
