DNA

Mumbai, Dec 9: A day after Santacruz-based contractor Ajit Patil was robbed by his domestic help Shankar Pradhan, 26, of cash and jewellery worth over Rs10 lakh, it is revealed that he also eloped with his lover who lived nearby. After looting the house, where he had been working for the last 10 years, he ran off with 19-year-old Hemali Rathod.

The police allege that Pradhan had been desperately waiting for an opportunity to burgle his employer’s house. “After Patil was admitted to the hospital with a lung ailment, Pradhan immediately acted on his plan,” said Dilip Gaikwad, senior police inspector, Santacruz police station.

Meanwhile, parents of his lover, Hemali, an SYBcom student from Raheja College, alleged that Pradhan had kidnapped her. “Hemali never spoke to Pradhan. Having an affair with him is impossible,” said Mukesh Rathod, Hemali’s uncle. Hemali’s father, Jayprakash, an employee of Bharat Petroleum, had lodged a missing person’s complaint with the police on November 30 after they failed to locate her.

However, Gaikwad said, “During our enquiry, a few locals in the area told us that Pradhan and Hemali had been having an affair for a few months and that Hemali must have eloped with Pradhan with her consent,” said Gaikwad.

Patil, 37, who stayed alone in the city had employed Pradhan when he was just a boy. “Patil trusted Pradhan since he had been with him for 10 years. He trustingly left the house under Pradhan’s care,” said Gaikwad. But when Patil returned from the hospital on Wednesday, all the valuables from the house were missing and Pradhan was untraceable.

“Patil had not even noted Pradhan’s native address or any other reference. He only knew that Pradhan hailed from Bihar,” said Gaikwad. The police are investigating if the girl played any significant role in the robbery.