A 55-year-old woman, known as Lataben, Gulab, and Lakadi Chauhan, was apprehended by the Crime Branch in Ahmedabad for allegedly robbing elderly individuals living alone. The arrest followed the death of an 81-year-old man, Abdulbhai Sipai, who passed away after consuming buttermilk laced with sedatives. Initially considered a theft case, it has now been elevated to culpable homicide due to the victim’s demise.
Officials revealed that the accused would enter the homes of elderly people under the guise of providing meals or shopping for them. Exploiting their vulnerability and isolation, she would gain their trust before serving them buttermilk mixed with sedatives. After rendering the victims unconscious, she would abscond with approximately Rs 4,000 in cash.
The modus operandi of the accused involved targeting elderly individuals or couples living alone, offering assistance with meals to win their confidence. Following the administration of drugged food items, she would commit thefts. The Crime Branch, utilizing CCTV footage and intelligence inputs, located and arrested the suspect in the Shahpur area.
Lataben has a criminal record with nine offenses registered at various police stations in Ahmedabad, including cases related to theft, house-breaking, and gambling. A case has been filed at Dariapur Police Station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, encompassing Sections 105, 123, 329(2), and 303(2). Police are conducting further investigations and cautioning senior citizens to be cautious and avoid accepting aid or food from unfamiliar individuals.
