MUMBAI, January 1: The Dahisar police recently nabbed a middle-aged woman, Savita Solanki, on charges of extortion and robbery.On the afternoon of December 24, 1997, sources revealed, Savita visited the home of Hema Bipin Kankiya at Kajupada, Dahisar west, posing as a saleswoman. Hema was then alone at home as her husband had gone to office.
In the midst of her talk with Hema, Savita took out a toy revolver and snatched Hema's mangalsutra. After this, she locked Hema inside the bathroom and escaped.
Hema was set free by the neighbours after some time, when her screams for help reached them. She then called her husband, told him about the incident and lodged a complaint with Dahisar police.
But Savita didn't stop at this. She started calling up the Kankiyas and threatened them with dire consequences if they didn't pay a sum of Rs 5 lakh.
Sub-inspector Subhash N Walve who is attached to the Dahisar police station said that the Kankiyas chose not to lodge a complaint with the police after receiving
the calls because Savita threatened to harm them by using the name of underworld gangsters. The calls continued, and Bipin promised he would pay the amount but needed to make arrangements for the same.
Having asked her for some time, Bipin then went ahead and lodged a complaint with Dahisar police. On December 29, 1997, Savita called again and threatened Bipin that if he didn't pay soon, his family would be harmed.
Bipin agreed to meet Savita the next day at Sanjay Gandhi National Park at 9.30 pm. The money, he told Savita, would be brought in a suitcase as instructed by her.
Accordingly, the Dahisar police laid a trap around the Sanjay Gandhi National Park on December 30. At around 9.30 pm, Savita arrived at the decided spot and met Bipin along with woman sub-inspector Subhadha Sankhe, who posed as Bipin's relative. When Bipin was about to hand over the bag to Savita, the police team of Walve, Police Sub-Inspector Anil Pawar and others sprung out of nowhere and nabbed Savita.
PSI Walve said police
have got information about the place from where Savita made the phone calls to Kankiyas. Walve said Savita is married and has three children. Police have recovered the mangalsutra that Savita snatched from Hema.
Further inquiries are in progress, and the possibility of Savita's involvement in other robbery and extortion cases is being investigated.o he¬Ut›<¼Tt›assengers. On 16 routes, 42 trips of buses have been earmarked exclusively for women during peak hours. On 20 routes at 34 points, women may enter from the front door of the buses. Special inspectors will be posted to help formation of systematic queues and to help women board the bus at bus stops.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
