Mumbai’s Juhu police have arrested a 47-year-old woman for allegedly stealing gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 25 lakh from the house of Raveena Tandon’s brother, Rajiv Tandon. The accused, identified as Rashi Chhabria, a resident of Khar, had been entrusted with caring for the actor’s elderly mother and allegedly gained the family’s trust before committing the crime.
How The Theft Was Discovered
According to police officials, the theft came to light in October last year when the Tandon family checked their safe and found it broken open. Several items, including gold and diamond ornaments and two luxury wristwatches, were missing. The stolen valuables were collectively worth Rs 25 lakh, a police official said.
Rajiv Tandon, in his complaint to the Juhu police, stated that Chhabria had been visiting the family since 2020 through mutual acquaintances. After the death of her husband and parents, she allegedly developed close ties with the family and was given unrestricted access to the house. Only family members and Chhabria were permitted entry to the second floor of the residence where the valuables were kept, the complaint stated.
Accused Confesses, Threatens Family
When confronted by Rajiv Tandon, Chhabria initially denied involvement but later confessed to the crime, according to the first information report (FIR). While she returned two stolen watches, she claimed the jewellery had been handed over to an associate named Jagdish, promising its return. However, despite repeated follow-ups, the accused woman allegedly failed to return the jewellery, the official said.
In a disturbing twist, the complainant has also alleged that Chhabria, through one of her associates claiming to be a police informer, threatened to implicate Rajiv Tandon in a false narcotics case if he continued to press for the return of the jewellery.
Arrest and Ongoing Investigation
Chhabria was arrested on May 21 and produced before a court, which remanded her to police custody till May 29, the officer said. Further investigation into the matter is underway. The Juhu police are now looking into the accused’s claims about the associate Jagdish and the alleged threats made to the Tandon family.
Raveena Tandon, a prominent Bollywood actress known for films like ‘Mohra’ and ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, has not issued a public statement regarding the incident. The actor was recently seen in the Netflix series ‘Aranyak’ and continues to be active in the industry.