Mumbai: Woman holidays in city, robs train commuters

The Bandra Railway Crime Unit has arrested Laxmi Vinod Solanki, 34, for allegedly pickpocketing and stealing jewellery at railway stations in Mumbai. Police said, Laxmi’s husband, Vinod Solanki, was unaware of her crimes. Under the pretext of taking him on holidays to Mumbai, she would stay with him at a hotel in the city for 3-4 days and commit theft during peak hours on local trains, before fleeing to Delhi. Laxmi is a resident of Malkaganj, New Delhi. Two years ago, she married Vinod, who works with a private firm. Before their marriage, Laxmi had been arrested by the GRP in Vadodara, Gujarat, in a pickpocketing case, but was later released. Her husband was reportedly shocked to learn of her recent arrest. 

The police said the complainant, Mohanlal Shivlal Rajpurohit, 49, is a garment trader and resident of Borivli. Around 1 pm on April 29, Mohanlal went to drop off his wife Mamta and son Prayansh at Borivli railway station, as they were travelling to their village by express train from Vasai Road railway station. Mamta had kept jewellery worth R5 lakh, including a gold chain, mangalsutra, and gold earrings in her handbag.

Laxmi Solanki would take advantage of the crowd at Borivli station and steal. Representation pic/Satej Shinde

“While boarding the train at Borivli, Laxmi took advantage of the crowd, opened the victim’s bag, stole the jewellery, and escaped. The entire incident was captured in the station’s CCTV cameras.” When Mamta reached Vasai, she checked her bag and discovered the jewellery was missing. She immediately informed her husband, and they filed an FIR with the Vasai Road GRP.

During the investigation, police found that Laxmi had stayed at a hotel in Borivli with her husband, but after the theft, they fled to Delhi. A team from the Bandra Railway Crime Unit travelled to Delhi to locate the couple but failed to do so.

A police officer said, “Recently, Laxmi returned to Mumbai and stayed at the same hotel. The hotel staff alerted us immediately. She attempted to steal again at Borivli station when she was caught red-handed by the Bandra Railway Crime Unit.”

The officer added, “We informed Laxmi’s husband, and he claimed he was unaware of her criminal activities. He told us that she had taken him to Mumbai just for a holiday. Laxmi is also wanted in a July 2024 pickpocketing case registered with the Borivli GRP. The Bandra Railway Crime Unit has informed the Borivli GRP, and they will take custody of her soon. We have also recovered stolen gold jewellery from Laxmi, which she had kept at her home in Delhi.”

According to the police, Borivli railway station was a favourite spot for Laxmi to commit theft. “She was aware that several long-distance trains depart from Borivli, where there is always a crowd. Laxmi took advantage of the crowd and managed to steal valuables from passengers. She revealed that she has stolen from people multiple times at Borivli railway station. She also revealed that whenever she would visit Mumbai with her husband, they would travel to picnic spots and tour the city. After returning to the hotel, she would make some excuse to leave her husband behind to commit thefts at railway stations.”

Rs 5 lakh
Estimated value of jewellery Laxmi Solanki stole on April 25

This article first appeared on Mid Day