Mumbai:
Twenty year-old Shweta Bhiku Gaikwad in Mumbai could have never imagined being in the spotlight, let alone being under police scrutiny.
But the night of June 25 changed everything for this Parel resident who was employed as a maid at model Viveka Babajee's Bandra home. Viveka was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her flat on June 25.
Shweta's statement to the police is crucial for those investigating the case as she was one of the last people to have met the model.
In an interview with Mid DAY, Gaikwad says the model didn't appear depressed on June 24, a day before she ended her life. The constant questioning by the police has left the 20-year-old nervous and she says she now wants to return to her village.
Here's an excerpt from the interview with Shweta Bhiku Gaikwad:
Q: How was Viveka behaving on June 24 when you saw her last?
A: She was normal, like she was every day. She would usually stay in her bedroom while I worked. On June 24, I saw her twice when she came into the kitchen to take food for the cats.
Q: Did you sense that she was depressed?
A: No. She used to stay in her bedroom with her cats most of the time. She hardly stepped out. But whenever we interacted, she seemed happy. She was a happy person. Whenever she'd bring along something to eat, she'd always offer some to me. She never treated me like a servant.
Q: Did you ever witness Gautam Vora, Kartik Jobanputra or anyone coming to Viveka's flat, or having an argument with her?
A: No. I was working for her since May 25, 2010. My timings were between 10 am and 3 pm. During this one month, I never saw anyone come to meet her. She hardly ever interacted with the neighbours either.
Q: Did she drink? Or take sleeping pills?
A: Not in front of me, but a lot of alcohol and tablets used to lie in the fridge. I think she was out of work because I never saw her go for work. She always stayed home, playing with her cats in the bedroom.
Q: What happened on June 25?
A: Like every day, I went to her flat and rang the bell. There was no answer. I called her cell phone but it was switched off. I asked the watchman to intercom her, but the line was disconnected. I left and heard about her death the next day.
Q: Did she ever discuss her life with you?
A: Not really. But she loved her cats to death. She'd get angry if I didn't take care of them.