Mid-Day

Mumbai, Jun 20: Sudama Daswani’s daughter Shilpa (16) has been missing since June 7, and the 55-year-old businessman claims she was kidnapped by her friend Arun Talekar (20). “Shilpa left for classes that morning and never returned. Arun is the culprit. His name was linked to another abduction case some months ago,” said Daswani.

However, Meghana (50), Arun’s mother, told MiD DAY, “Shilpa has kidnapped Arun.” She added that the girl forced her son into running away with her, threatening to commit suicide if he didn’t. “Arun had told us she was a friend. But now while she will get away because she is a minor, my son will be arrested,” said the distraught mother.

The girl’s parents filed a police complaint at Hill Road police station on June 7. The first information report was prepared on June 9.

The incident

The two were last seen at Bhatia Chowk on June 7. “They left on Arun’s bike,” said Meghana. Sudama alleged that Arun’s parents warned him not to go to the police. “They warned me that I would never see Shilpa again,” he said.

Arun’s friend Sandeep Bhambre said, “The two had been in a relationship for over six months. On June 7, Shilpa kept asking Arun to take her away. When we tried to intervene, she told us to stay away.” Sandeep added that Shilpa’s family used to beat her up because she was seeing Arun.

The couple was in Matheran on June 9, the Hill Line police confirmed. “In the records at Dasturi (near Matheran), we found the number of Arun’s bike, but the two had left the same day (June 9) for another destination,” said N Bhor, the investigating officer. Bhor added, “It is clear they have eloped, but only the boy will be arrested as the girl is a minor.”