The latest celebrity to be burgled by a domestic servant is internationally renowned cartoonist R.K. Laxman, whose temporary domestic help was arrested on Saturday for stealing gold jewellery from his Pune residence.
According to the Chaturshringi police, the accused, Santosh Pawar (40) was hired by Mr Laxman earlier this week after his regular domestic help went to his hometown to take care of some family business. Pawar used to take care of the housework and live at Mr Laxman’s residence.
On Thursday morning, Pawar left the house saying he had to buy some shaving gear for himself but didn’t return. Mr Laxman smelt a rat and on checking the bedroom cupboard found that some gold jewellery was missing. He immediately informed the police.
“After recording Mr Laxman’s statement, we visited the employment agency through which Pawar had got his job and got his address in Bopodi, Pune. However, he was not at home and we could not track his cellphone, after which we widened our search,” said an officer with the Chaturshringi police.
On Friday, the police received a tip-off that Pawar would be trying to flee Pune by bus and laid a trap at the Katraj bus stop. Pawar was taken into custody and the police recovered the gold necklace and earrings from his possession. He is currently placed under arrest.
S.N. Walekar, assistant police inspector, Chaturshringi police, said, “Pawar was also arrested for theft in 1996, but since it’s an old record, he managed to hide it when the employment agency verified his background.”
Pawar has been remanded to police custody till Sunday.