House help's WhatsApp status flaunting stolen saree & watch leads ex-employers to Rs 2.4 lakh theft

The theft was caught after the help flaunted the stolen saree in a WhatsApp status. (Representational)

A WhatsApp status update featuring a house help in a striking new outfit and watch sparked a theft investigation in Mumbai. The couple she worked for suspected foul play after noticing their belongings from their Kandivli home were missing, with a shocking revelation that the former maid, Rupali Singh, may be behind the theft.

Rupali Singh had been employed for two years by the couple running an event management business. Tasked with cleaning their 3BHK residence and caring for their children, Singh abruptly resigned on October 7, citing family issues as her reason for leaving. Her parents had approached a court for separation, she told her employers, Times of India reported.

However, the couple's concerns escalated when the wife, preparing for Dussehra, found her new saree missing from the cupboard. When she reached out to Singh for clarification, she assured her that she had ironed the saree and placed it in the cupboard. But despite searching every corner of their home, the saree was nowhere to be found.

It was only when reviewing CCTV footage from the day of Singh's departure that the couple noticed suspicious behaviour. The footage revealed Singh leaving their home with bags that seemed unusually full. The investigation took a startling twist when the complainant’s wife, while scrolling through WhatsApp, spotted Singh's status update featuring the watch and outfit that had gone missing.

Fuelled by their suspicions, the couple conducted a thorough search of their home and discovered a staggering array of missing items valued at approximately Rs 2.4 lakh, including jewellery, sunglasses, a children's bag, and cash.

The Samta Nagar Police Station has since registered a case of theft against Singh and is actively pursuing leads to locate her, TOI reported.

Just days ago, a house help in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, employed by a family for eight years was caught mixing her urine into food for her employers on camera. She has been arrested.