Mumbai: A startling case of theft has emerged from the upscale Tardeo area of Mumbai, where jewellery worth Rs 10.5 lakh was stolen from a private bungalow. The incident has sent shockwaves through the neighbourhood, with police now turning their attention toward the family’s caretaker, who is the primary suspect in the ongoing investigation.

The complaint was lodged by Devika Panchal, a 40-year-old resident of a bungalow situated near Jaywant Industries. Panchal lives with her family and her ailing 70-year-old father, who is paralysed and requires constant care. To assist with his needs, the family had employed a young male caretaker whose duty was to look after the elderly man throughout the day and leave by 11 p.m. each night.

On the evening of August 9, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Panchal went to check on her father and noticed something unusual. The wooden cupboard in the room had been left open, clothes were scattered across the floor, and the drawer inside was ajar. Most alarmingly, the key to the cupboard, usually kept hidden and secure within, was lying outside, suggesting a deliberate breach.

Upon further inspection, it was discovered that several valuable pieces of gold jewellery were missing. These included a gold necklace, a chain, a ring, earrings, and bangles, collectively valued at Rs 10.5 lakh. The sudden disappearance of these items, paired with the visible signs of tampering, led Panchal to suspect foul play, as reported.

What made the situation more suspicious was the limited access to the room. On the day of the incident, only the caretaker and the brother of the housekeeper had been present in the house. However, it was confirmed that only the caretaker had entered the father’s room. Based on this information, Panchal filed a formal complaint with the Tardeo Police.

The police have since registered a case and initiated a thorough investigation. Officers are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the house and surrounding area to trace any suspicious movements. They are also conducting a background check on the caretaker, seeking to determine whether he has a history of criminal activity or connections to other thefts in the city.

Yavatmal: A 9-year-old boy allegedly sexually assaulted a minor girl studying in his class with the help of another female classmate in the toilet of their school in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, police said on Tuesday.

Accused The Case

The accused boy and the 9-year-old girl, who allegedly abetted the crime, have been detained and sent to a juvenile remand home, they said.

The victim, aged 8, and the two accused were students of Class 3 at a Zilla Parishad school in Babulgaon town, where the alleged incident took place on August 1, the police said.

A few days back, the victim complained of pain in her private parts following which her mother took her to a hospital. Doctors at the hospital found injuries on the victim’s private parts, a police official said.

As per a police complaint lodged by the victim’s mother, her daughter told her that a boy from her class assaulted her in the school toilet with the help of another girl, the official said.

The victim’s mother approached the police on August 9 with a complaint against the boy and the girl and a case was subsequently registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the police said.

Yavatmal Superintendent of Police Kumar Chintha said the police have received a complaint about a 9-year-old boy assaulting an 8-year-old girl in Babulgaon.

Another girl, aged 9, helped the boy (in the crime), he said.

The two accused children have sent to a remand home, police said.

Mumbai: The much-anticipated third phase of Mumbai’s Metro-3 Aqua Line, connecting Worli to Cuffe Parade, is set to miss its scheduled Independence Day inauguration, with officials now targeting a launch by the end of August.

Reason Behind Missing August 15 Deadline

The 9.1-km underground stretch was initially slated to open on August 15. However, a Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) official confirmed that construction at two crucial Kalbadevi stations is still underway. Work in the densely populated area has faced delays due to congested layouts and logistical challenges. “We are targeting an inauguration by the end of August.

The Metro-3 Aqua Line is expected to majorly ease north-south travel in the city once operational. The first two phases have already improved connectivity between Aarey and Worli, while the final leg will link commuters directly to Cuffe Parade in South Mumbai.

Meanwhile, on the eve of Independence Day, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will preside over the inauguration of several other infrastructure projects across Mumbai. These include a 2.75-km flyover between Mumbai University and Vile Parle to ease the Santacruz bottleneck, a new bridge connecting Kalanagar and Dharavi for better east-west access and a Metro motormen training centre at Mandale to reduce dependence on outstation facilities.

Fadnavis will also inaugurate MMRDA staff quarters at Malvani and symbolically hand over keys to 556 tenants from the redeveloped BDD chawls in Worli, marking the completion of the project’s first phase. In addition, the International Experience Centre at Dabbewala Bhavan in Bandra West will be opened to celebrate Mumbai’s famed lunchbox delivery network.

While the city will benefit from the slew of new transport and housing initiatives, the delay in Metro-3’s completion means daily commuters will have to wait a little longer for seamless underground connectivity from Worli to South Mumbai.