Mumbai Crime: Duo who robbed priest were trying to get their money back

The priest had taken Rs 75,000 for performing rituals in their jewellery shop in Kanjurmarg, assuring them of huge profits; when no such thing happened, the duo asked for their money back but he refused

In a case of a strange flip of events, a victim in a robbery case has now become the accused, after police learnt that the duo who looted him had done it to get their money back.

mid-day’s July 23 report on the priest being robbed

The priest, who was robbed last week, is now wanted in a cheating case and has been declared absconding by the Mulund police. mid-day had reported on July 23 that a duo a man and a woman had looted 55-year-old Bharat Jamnadas Joshi after they called him to perform rituals at their shop in Kanjurmarg.

The woman had first approached him and asked him to come to Kanjurmarg station. After picking him up in her car, her partner-in-crime, Uday Makhwana (28), got in the vehicle at Square junction near Kanjurmarg flyover.

The duo then ordered Joshi to take off all his ornaments and, after robbing him, they dumped him on the Eastern Express Highway. Joshi had then approached the Mulund police, where a case was registered against them.

Money matters
Police arrested Makhwana on Tuesday from Kanjurmarg, after they traced him using the location that his phone number revealed. However, during investigations, it emerged that Joshi had actually taken money from Makhwana and his female friend for performing rituals at a jewellery store they had in Vikhroli. The priest had taken Rs 75,000 more than a month ago, promising them huge profits in the business.

However, when no such thing happened, the duo asked for their money back. Joshi flatly refused to entertain any such request and didn’t return the money. Angry, the duo hatched a plan to get their money back from him. An officer from Mulund police station said, “We have been investigating the case and have learnt that the duo wanted to get their money back.”

He also added that the priest is missing and his son has given a statement to the police saying that his father had indeed taken the money and didn’t return it. Police have booked Joshi for cheating and declared him absconding. They are also hunting for the female accused of robbing the priest.

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