Housekeeper held for murder

THANE: The police have arrested a housekeeping staff in the murder of 70-year-old woman from Kalyan. The man used to visit the woman’s house twice a week for cleaning and other small chores. He had planned to rob her jewellery. However, he could not open her safe as he was scared and fled the spot.

Hansaben Pravin Thakkar, who lived alone in the ground floor of a residential complex in Kalyan (W), was found murdered a few days ago. The accused who murdered her has been identified as Vijendra Thakare, 35, who works as a garbage collector in the morning and sets up a pav bhaji cart in the evening.

“We were very much sure that the accused is a known person. The woman never allowed any unknown person inside her house. We checked CCTVs of nearby areas but nothing concrete was found. Later, we spoke to several traders and other people in the society to know with whom she used to interact. At that time, we came to know about this cleaner who would come for cleaning, with whom Thakkar would speak to sometimes. We noticed that Thakkar closed his pav bhaji corner for the past few days and got suspicious,” said Yashwant Chavan, senior police inspector, Bazarpeth police station.

Kalyan DCP, Vivek Pansare, said, “The accused had so much debt. Taking advantage of her loneliness and to solve his debt issues, he went to her house after she called him for cleaning. While she was doing her work, he first threatened her and later killed her. Later, he could not muster courage to rob her and left without taking jewellery.”

RISHIKESH CHOUDHARY/HT The cops with the arrested in Kalyan.