Caretaker murders Khar couple, slips through basic security loops

An octogenarian couple was found murdered at their Khar home on Thursday morning, allegedly by a 25-year-old caretaker who has been missing since the crimes came to light. Prima facie, the brutal crime could have been avoided had routine safety protocol been followed by the housing society, and the couple.

Nanak (85) and Daya Makhijani (80) were found murdered in their first floor residence at Ekta Elite building at 21st Road in Khar (W). Police suspect they were suffocated using a pillow.

The couple lived alone with the absconding caretaker, and had a temporary staff of three. Their two children live abroad — one in Singapore, and the other in USA.

The caretaker came through the watchman’s reference a fortnight ago, and had not been registered with the police. Thus her name, address and photo-identity are not available. The upmarket residential building does not have CCTV cameras monitoring the premises, and the police is left without leads.

One of the helpers, who reported for duty at 8 am, discovered the crime. “She kept ringing the doorbell, and suspected foul play when nobody responded,” said an officer from Khar Police Station.

To catch a killer

Ekta Elite in Khar does not have CCTV camera surveillance, though it is covered by other CCTVs in the area 

The caretaker came through the watchman and was not registered with any agency 

She was not registered with police. There is no photo id of her with the cops, housing society

No other references were provided for the caretaker by former employers or agencies