Mumbai woman orders Diwali cleaning service on app, gets robbed of Rs 4 lakh gold | Latest news from India

55-year-old Mumbai woman falls victim to Diwali cleaning scam, loses gold jewelery worth ₹4 lakh. She ordered a cleaning service through a mobile app that sent two people to her home. Thieves allegedly stole valuables while cleaning.

The incident highlights concerns about the safety and reliability of hiring a cleaner through online platforms. Police arrested 27-year-old Arbaz Khan and detained two others for questioning.

Robbery

Leena Mhatre, who lives in Rishikesh Society in Dahisara, Mumbai, booked the cleaning service on October 21 in preparation for the Diwali festival. She ordered the service of the NoBroker application. Two people arrived at her house the next morning around 9am. While they were allegedly cleaning, Mhatre later discovered that her closet was open and her gold jewelry was missing.

Realizing the theft only after the cleaners had left, Mhatre quickly went to the police to file a report. Authorities then arrested 27-year-old Arbaz Khan, who was believed to be the prime suspect in the theft. After going through the CCTV footage, the police identified two other persons, Santosh Omprakash Yadav and Sufiyan Nazir Ahmad Sudar, who are now being questioned.

Investigation and rules

The police is investigating whether the NoBroker app conducted background checks on employees before hiring them, the Free Press Journal reported. Officer Sandeep Gord said the rules require all employees, including cleaners, to be vetted by police before being assigned to private residences.

“We are verifying that NoBroker vetted these employees prior to appointment. The app blocked their IDs after the incident,” Gord told Lokmat.

Despite the growing popularity of online cleaning services, there is a worrying lack of regulatory oversight in the sector. Most platforms advertise themselves as reliable and professional, but few provide concrete evidence of thorough employee background checks.

This case is a stark reminder to consumers Be careful when hiring services through digital platformsespecially in the absence of strict regulatory measures. with Diwali just around the corner, the need for vigilance is more urgent than ever.