Father of youth who killed Mumbai woman, 'When I realised he’s a murderer, I helped the police catch him’

I never dreamt my son would murder someone He had come to Mumbai to help me financially When I realised my son was a murderer I helped the cops trace and arrest himrdquo said Sanjay Kumar Pandit the father of Kanhaiya Kumar Pandit 21 who killed a 67yearold woman Jyoti Shah in her Nepean Sea Road residence on Tuesday Kanhaiya had called his father from an unknown number which helped the cops trace him to Jalgaon on WednesdayThe deceased who lived in a 20thfloor flat in Tahnee Heights at Nepean Sea Road and whose husband owns a jewellery store in Nariman Point was allegedly strangled by Kanhaiya on the afternoon of March 12 his second day on the job The youth fled with two bangles and switched off his phoneKanhaiya Kumar Pandit 21 the accusedHis father Sanjay said ldquoMy son was brought up in a village I lost my wife after my second son was born I gave my son an education to help him become a good man He never fought with anyone or committed any crime I work as a security guard in a society neighbouring the one in which the Shahs reside and live in Asha Nagar slum near the societyrdquoHe added ldquoIn November my roommate who works at the Shah residence told me that he had a job for my son and that he would receive a Rs 15000 salary I informed Kanhaiya about the job and told him to come to Mumbai He worked in the Tahnee Heights for three months Last month he appeared for the HSC exam in our hometown and I even accompanied himrdquoAccording to Sanjay a few days ago his roommate informed him about a fulltime domestic help job at the Shah residence On learning about this his son assured him that he wouldnrsquot go back to his hometown but take up the job ldquoOn his first day on the job I called him to ask him about his experience and he said it was good He told me the house owners were polite I was happy about my son getting the job and being in Mumbai with merdquo Sanjay said On the morning of March 12 a cook came in and prepared food for the Shah family and he leftThe incidentThe deceased her husband Mukesh and their daughter Neha had lunch together at around 1 pm Later The father and daughter left for the jewellery shop A police officer said ldquoAround 2 pm Kanhaiya another domestic help Ajay Saha and Shah were at home Around 215 pm Jyoti Shah collected a parcel while Saha completed his work and left for the dayEvery day Shah would take an afternoon nap for at least an hour Around 3 pm the accused entered the bedroom which was captured by the CCTV cameras installed in the hall area for security purposesrdquoAjay Saha the domestic help who had left before the murder occurred right Jyoti Shah with her husband Mukesh and daughter NehaldquoKanhaiya also did the exit procedure at the security point on the ground floor The accused revealed to the cops that he had entered the bedroom and was trying to steal gold ornaments when Shah woke up and confronted him A fight occurred between them and he strangled her to death The accused also stole two diamond bangles worth Rs 3 lakh from the house and fledrdquo a police officer saidFather helps copsKanhaiya caught a train from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus He inserted a new SIM card and called Sanjay around 2 pm on March 13 The latter immediately informed the cops about the call and the cops traced the accused to Jalgaon with the help of the railway policeThe Shah familyrsquos residence on Nepean Sea RoadSanjay told midday ldquoWhen my son called me from an unknown number he asked me where I was and I replied that I was at home I also asked him where he was and why he was switching off his phone He didnrsquot reply and cut the call I immediately informed the police I realised that my son had killed someone and fled I helped the cops I wanted to meet my son and asked the officer to let me speak with him at least once But the police didnrsquot allow me to meet himrdquoDesperate attemptSaha told midday ldquoAround 6 pm I received a call from Mukesh Shah and he told me to go home as his wife was not responding to calls When I reached the flat she didnrsquot open the door I then went to the ground floor and found the familyrsquos driver By then the family had arrived Jyoti Shah was found unconscious on the bed Neha performed CPR but she did not respond When the cops arrived the help was taken into custody The family tried their best to save her but failed I have been working for the family for the past one and a half yearsrdquo ldquoI had referred Kanhaiya for the job after his father vouched for him I am shocked that he killed someone I was looking out for him I donrsquot know if the Shah family will keep me around My boss was a really good personrdquo he added