Mumbai: Cops suspect foul play in Cuffe Parade maid's death

Six hours after an accidental fall from the 19th floor kitchen window of Maker Towers A- Wing building in Cuffe Parade, the body of a 25-year-old maid was found lying on the roof of the entrance at 8 am yesterday.

Illustration/ Uday Mohite

Initial investigations suggest the deceased, identified as Shamita Tambe, fell at around 1.30 am, the previous night. The policed has registered an accidental death report but the possibility of murder has not been ruled out. Three domestic helps also working for the same employer have been detained, and the postmortem report is awaited.

Tambe who lived in Machhimar Nagar in Cuffe Parade with her husband, worked for 70-year-old businessman Ramesh Bhojwani. Due to his ill health, he largely remained at home. Tambe functioned as his full-time maid. Another maid, Aruna Ingole, also worked from him.

Events to the death
It was Bhojwani's birthday party on Friday night and he had called over guests for dinner. A police officer said, "Tambe and Ingole were at home along with other two cooks. The guests left by 11.30 pm that night."

At 1.30 am, Ingole went to the bedroom, while Bhojwani sat up working. Tambe and the cooks were in the kitchen. Tambe was sitting at the balcony which had a grill which the police believe was fragile. When she leaned out, the grill gave way, leading to her fall.

The police officer added, "The cooks got scared and escaped, while Ingole claims she doesn't know what happened. It was at 8 am that the building watchman spotted the body on the roof of the entrance. We are not sure if she was pushed to her death."

He added, "Her body was found in mysterious circumstances. We have detained the house servant and two cooks. According to Bhojwani's statement, he was sleeping in his bedroom at the time of the incident."

The cops suspect that Ingole might know more than she has confessed. They are waiting for the postmortem report and will interrogate the trio again.