Mumbai Crime: Borivli driver held for setting 5 buses ablaze after dispute with owner

Photo for representational purpose

A driver working with a travel agency was arrested for setting five private buses ablaze in separate instances in Borivli (West) after a dispute with his employer.

Police suspected insider involvement when an agency's buses were being repeatedly targeted. The accused, Ajay Saraswa, told police he wanted to get back at his employer as he had not paid his salary. The torched buses were valued at Rs 3.3 crore, stated a report in The Times of India.

Around 5.30 am on January 17, three buses of Atmaram Travels parked near Eskay Resort went up in flames. The fire brigade doused the flames and there were no casualties. The fire department and police then began a probe. "We were wondering if a short-circuit was the cause as the buses were not operational since the nationwide lockdown began in March 2020," said senior inspector Popat Yele, MHB Colony police.

Investigators found the insurance of the vehicles had expired, and ruled out the possibility of them being torched for claiming insurance.

On January 22, two more buses of the agency caught fire. This time, police sensed something amiss and they questioned the travel agency staff and zeroed in on Saraswat. "Saraswat had been involved in a road crash in Goa, which led to a dispute with his employer. A police complaint had been registered too," said Yele.

Saraswat, arrested the same day under section 435 of IPC, told police he used to set fire to curtains of each bus and escape. Saraswat claimed his employer did not pay him his salary and assaulted him. Police are verifying his claims. A resident of Borivli's Govind Nagar, Saraswat, does not have a criminal record.