Accused would avail hotel services like pick-up and drop, food, drinks and leave without paying
Straight out of the class Bollywood movie of the 1990, Baap Numbri, Beta Dus Numbri, a notorious father-son duo was arrested for conning five star hotels in the city. The duo was arrested on Saturday by the Cuffe Parade police, credits the alertness of a security guard at Hotel Taj Vivanta.
The accused — identified as Suhas Nerlekar, 73, and his son Swapnil, 32 — would create new ways to make their way into five-star hotels, consume the best of food and drinks, use hotel facilities like pick-up and drop, and would flee in the spec of a second without making payment for any of the services they availed.
The accused are residents of Kandivali's Thakur Complex.
According to the police, on Saturday, when complainant Deepak Manik (32), who has been working as a security guard at Hotel Taj Vivanta for the past seven years, was on duty when two men arrived at the hotel at around 5.30 pm.
"Finding their movements suspicious, Manik kept a watch on them and also informed the receptionist. The duo went to one of the restaurants in the hotel, called Trattoria, and had wine and food. The hotel staff then made inquiries with the duo, who claimed that they had booked a room in the hotel over phone and were waiting for a relative. They also stated that they have not made payment for the room neither the food and liquor," a Cuffe Parade police officer said.
He said that the duo also said they had booked a pick-up service with the hotel from Kandivali. The hotel manager then asked Manik to keep a watch on them.
Around 8 pm, Suhas visited the washroom, and ten minutes later Swapnil followed. The manager and Manik, who were monitoring their movements, followed them to the washroom and waited for them to come out.
After waiting for fifteen minutes, Manik and the manager asked them to come out. When the duo complied, Manik and the manager saw blood oozing out from the wrists of both accused, police said. They were treated immediately. Upon a detailed inquiry, the manager found that they had committed a similar fraud at Taj Santacruz, Taj Lands End (Bandra) and Hotel Taj Mahal at Colaba.
The hotel security took the duo to the police. A payment of Rs 3,360 for the car booked by the accused, and Rs 5,471 for food and wine at the restaurant and was pending on the part of the accused. A case of cheating and common intention was made by the management of Hotel Taj Vivanta.
"When we inquired about their family, they claimed to have no relatives. The police have seized their Aadhar, two mobile phones and two blades from their possession," said the officer.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
- A security guard, Manik at Hotel Taj Vivanta grew suspicious upon seeing the accused
- Manik, along with the manager, started keeping an eye on them
- When caught red-handed, the duo said they had booked rooms, and a pick-up and drop service at many hotels
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Restaurant")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}