Cell shock for Khar robbers
Smart software loaded in victim’s mobile led to their arrest.
It was a smart mobile phone software that helped officers of the Khar police station to catch three men who were allegedly involved in the abduction of two women near Carter Road on September 25. Kiran Sawant, Rakesh Chavan, and Manoj Naik, all aged between 25 and 27 and residing in the Khar Danda area, were arrested on September 29.
Kim Pandit, one of the two women, had the Cell Track software installed in her mobile phones. Though one of her phones was seized by the robbers, the other remained with her, helping the police to trace the suspects.
According to the police, Dimple Bathija, 29, and Pandit, 28, had gone to a restaurant near Carter Road, Bandra (West), on the evening of September 25. Around 9:45pm, the two left the restaurant and went towards Bathija’s car, which was parked nearby.
“As the two sat inside, two men armed with a knife and a revolver opened the rear doors, got in, and directed Pandit to drive,” said a police officer. “After driving some distance, they made Pandit stop the car and sit at the back. One of the robbers then took the wheel.”
According to the officer, as one robber drove the vehicle, the other relieved the two women of their belongings, including two mobile phones, collectively worth Rs20,000, a gold pendant worth Rs6,000, a silver chain worth Rs1,000, and Rs2,600 in cash.
“One of the robbers found an ATM card and Pandit’s two mobile phones,” the officer said. “But Pandit requested him to spare one, saying it contained the numbers of her clients and she might lose her job if the contacts were lost. The robber relented and let her keep it.” His generosity would prove costly for the duo.
The suspects then drove to an ATM counter and told Pandit to withdraw money while they made Bathija sit with them in the car. Pandit, however, quietly got in touch with the police. After a while, the robbers vanished from the spot with the car and Bathija. They later tied Bathija up in the car and abandoned the vehicle.
The next day, Kiran Sawant inserted his Vodafone SIM card in Pandit’s stolen mobile and called one of his relatives. His number was promptly displayed on the phone with Pandit. Using the number, police traced Sawant to his Guzdar Bandh residence. His arrest led to the arrest of the other two.