Palghar, Aug 13: Police in Maharashtra’s Palghar district have arrested a 27-year-old woman who allegedly disguised herself as a man to rob jewellery worth over ₹1.5 crore from her sister’s father-in-law’s home. The accused, identified as Jyoti Mohan Bhanushali, was caught in Navsari, Gujarat, hours after the crime.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon in Manickpur, Vasai, when Bhanushali visited the house of the 66-year-old victim — who lived alone — posing as a potential buyer wanting to inspect the property.
“Once inside, she took the elderly man to the toilet under the pretext of checking it, locked him inside, and fled with 1.4 kg of gold ornaments and 2.3 kg of silver items, collectively valued at ₹1,50,84,050,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Madan Ballal said.
Following the victim’s complaint, police registered an FIR under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for theft, robbery, and wrongful confinement. Investigators sifted through 75 to 80 CCTV clips, eventually spotting footage of a man carrying stolen goods and hiding them before a woman retrieved them.
Technical surveillance and intelligence inputs pointed to a relative in Gujarat, leading a crime branch team — with Navsari police’s help — to Bhanushali late Monday night.
“During interrogation, she admitted to planning the robbery herself, knowing the victim lived alone. Disguised as a man, she entered and executed the theft,” Ballal said, adding that all stolen items have been recovered.
Police said further investigation into the case is underway.
