The spot where incident occured
Senior citizen was on his way home from market when two persons asked him about an eye hospital; next thing he remembers, his head is throbbing and his gold rings, chain, cash are gone
Like any other day, on the afternoon of February 23, Anant Pawar (65), a resident of Gaon Devi, Vakola, Santacruz (East) went to the market near his house to buy some vegetables. According to Police Sub-inspector Sandeep Dhable of the Vakola police station, "Pawar was returning home with his bag of vegetables in hand, when two people approached him near Patuck College. One of them asked him, 'Where is an eye hospital here? I have an eye problem'. And he remembers looked into his eyes fleetingly."
The next five minutes are a blur in Pawar's memory; he did not register what was happening, he said later. When he snapped out of the haze and gathered his bearings, he realised that other than the pounding in his head, something else was wrong. His gold chain, rings and cash -- worth Rs 1 lakh -- were missing, along with his bag of cauliflowers and spinach, worth Rs 30. He had just been hypnotised, cops said, by a couple of thieves- in a crowded market in broad daylight- who snatched his bag of grocery, and his gold jewels and cash.
A friend who happened to be passing by helped him home, gave him some water, helped him relax, and two hours later, took him to register a complaint at Vakola police station. At the police station, Pawar said, "My head is still throbbing. I have a vague memory of two people coming to me. Next thing I remember is my friend Sadanand Shinde with me.
My chain, rings and cash were missing, and my head was aching badly. They took all my gold and money." PSI Dhable said, "The accused came and hypnotised Pawar and took his valuables worth around Rs 1 lakh. We have registered a case against unknown people under Sections 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. We are investigating and hope to arrest the accused soon."