Mumbai: ‘Last crime’ proves costly for former repeat offender

Shalka Suresh Gavas

Returning to the criminal life in order to help her lover proved costly for a 35-year-old. The police said the accused, Shalka Suresh Gavas, against whom dozens of cases had been filed almost a decade ago, had gone straight and was living with her boyfriend in Goa. Recently, the accused and her boyfriend decided to tie the knot and start a business together. As she needed funds for this endeavour, Gavas allegedly made off with a camera worth Rs 1.5 lakh in 2022. The Borivli Government Railway Police arrested her from Goa on Tuesday.

According to police sources, Gavas had put up a job ad on Facebook, which the complainant, a college student, happened to see in October last year. After the latter called the number mentioned in the post, the accused and her met at Malad railway station. Gavas offered to pay the complainant Rs 25,000 per month for taking pictures of items in malls, which were to be uploaded on social media. As the complainant didn't have a professional-quality camera, Gavas suggested she rent it out from a Powai-based shop and accompanied her to the establishment. The victim then obtained the equipment after providing documents, including her Aadhaar card and paying the deposit.

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Later, Gavas took the camera, requesting the complainant to meet her at Malad station the following day, but when the latter arrived at the spot, she discovered that Gavas nowhere to be seen and her phone was switched off. Realising that she had been duped, she rushed to the Borivli Goverment Railway Police station. After registering a case, a team led by Assistant Inspector Kiran Kamble and supervised by Senior Inspector Anil Kadam, comprising officers Aparna Manjrekar and Pushpa More, began the investigation.

On examining footage from CCTV cameras from Malad railway and Kalina, the police learnt that Gavas had been staying at a hotel in Vakola. However, they found out that she had left for Goa. The cops later discovered that Gavas was living near Anjuna beach. To nab her, they headed to the neighbouring state posing as tourists. After narrowing down her whereabouts, the police detained and arrested Gavas and she was brought back to the city.

Gavas had been staying with her boyfriend in Goa as she had been ostracised by her family because of her alleged criminal behaviour. The person with whom she was going to launch the business venture was unaware of her criminal background. Gavas later confessed to the police that this was her last crime as she was running out of money. The police have recovered the camera. Gavas has been remanded in police custody until Friday.

10
Day in December when accused was arrested

Rs 1.5L
Value of the camera