Special Correspondent
Pune: In a shocking incident, a 15-year-old boy was threatened with death and forced to steal cash and jewelry from his own house. Over a span of five months, the boy stole jewelry worth ₹25 lakh and ₹20,000 in cash, handing them over to the accused.
Based on a complaint filed by the boy’s parents, the Yerwada Police have registered a case against Rohidas Navnath Owhal (29, Jadhav Nagar, Yerwada), Rehan Shabbir Qureshi (25, Yerwada), and Stephen John Shirsat (19, Vadgaon Sheri) under various sections for compelling a minor to commit theft.
According to the police, the complainant runs a grocery store and lives in a joint family. The family’s jewelry—including that of the complainant, his brother, and their mother—was kept in their mother’s custody.
Recently, during a religious ceremony at their home, the complainant’s mother checked the jewelry but found it missing. Alarmed, she informed the family, but no one had any clue about its whereabouts.
When the complainant questioned his 15-year-old son, he noticed the boy was visibly stressed. Upon gaining his trust, the boy hesitantly revealed, “If I tell their names, they will kill me.”
After reassurance that police action would protect him, the boy disclosed that one of his friends had introduced him to the accused seven months ago. A few days later, the accused started threatening him, saying, “Bring money from your house for us. Do you know how dangerous our records are? If you refuse, we will kill you.”
Scared for his life, the boy first gave them ₹20,000 in cash from his house. However, when his grandfather fell ill and stayed home, he was unable to steal more money. The accused, enraged, then threatened to kill his entire family. Under immense fear, the boy stole jewelry from his house and handed it over to the accused.
Police Investigation Underway
The Yerwada Police are actively investigating the case, and efforts are underway to recover the stolen valuables. The incident has raised concerns about how easily minors can be manipulated and coerced into criminal activities.
