Caught stealing, domestic help commits suicide

A 30-year-old domestic help, Mamta Biradar, jumped to her death from the fourth floor of a residential society in the plush Amanora Township on Wednesday afternoon.

The police said Biradar took the extreme step after flat owner Anita Somane caught her stealing Rs 500 from the bedroom while cleaning.

Death over Rs 500: Domestic help Mamta Biradar, who jumped off the fourth-floor balcony in Amanora Township after her employer caught her stealing Rs 500 from the bedroom; (insert) the police at the suicide spot

Biradar was rushed to hospital, but succumbed to her injuries in the evening. A complaint was registered by Somane with the Hadapsar police station.

"Biradar, a resident of Sade Satara Nali in Hadapsar, was working as a maid at Somane's home for the last 15 days and on Wednesday afternoon, Somane saw her stealing Rs 500 from the bedroom of the flat," Police Sub-Inspector Bhushan Pawar said. "Biradar was caught her red-handed."

Pawar said Somane reprimanded Biradar and called up the domestic help's husband Dhanraj, who said he would reach the place in a few minutes.

"Biradar, who was scared after being caught red-handed, felt humiliated after knowing that her husband was also informed," Pawar said. "She ran towards the balcony and jumped off the fourth-floor flat."

When Dhanraj arrived, he saw a crowd at the building and saw his wife lying in a pool of blood. Biradar died at 8.30 pm on Wednesday. "We have registered a case of suicide and investigations are on," Pawar said.u00a0