Navi Mumbai: An employee of a Koliwada-based travel agency and his associate have been arrested by the CBD Belapur police for robbing passengers on the pretext of giving a lift. Sumit Ramesh Rawat (30), a resident of Kamothe, had started Shree Ganesh travel agency, and bought a Wagon R. His associate Abasaheb Ankush Madne (28), a resident of Digha, is a driver with a private vehicle.
Lift till Panvel
On July 21, 78-year-old Shyam Yelappa Varget from Prabhadevi was robbed by the duo when he was waiting near the CBD flyover on Sion-Panvel highway and was offered a lift till Panvel. Valuables worth ₹63,000, which include gold jewellery, were stolen. “The modus operandi was to ask the person waiting for a bus about their destination, and then they would tell them that they too are going there and would drop him. After the victim gets in the vehicle, Rawat, who would be the driver, would ask for money. Madne, who would be seated behind, would start threatening the passenger and ask to remove all valuables,” said senior inspector Jayaraj Chaparia from CBD Belapur police station. Mr. Varget was dropped at Belpada in Kharghar.
Abandoned
Similar incident happened on July 25 when 58-year-old Ramesh More from Nerul was robbed on CBD-Nerul road and was abandoned near Uran Phata. Mr. More was robbed of valuables worth ₹30,000. “Mr. More noted down the registration number of the Wagon R. We found that it was registered in the name of Shree Ganesh Travel Agency. Rawat had recently shifted to Kamothe and had renewed the insurance of his vehicle. We got his current address from the insurance company. Following his arrest, we found the details of his associate,” said an officer from CBD Belapur police station.
The police also recovered gold jewellery robbed from the two complainants. “The accused will be handed over to the Kharghar police,” said Mr. Chaparia.
