In a shocking incident from Mumbai's upscale Breach Candy area, a trusted domestic helper stands accused of making off with a prized collection of around 60 silver and gold-studded horse racing trophies. The valuables, worth a staggering Rs 15.24 lakh, were stolen from the residence of a well-known club owner and film director.
The Victim and His Prized Collection
The complainant, Shiven Surendranath (59), is a film director by profession and the owner of the Royal Western India Turf Club Limited (RWITC) and the Diamond Band Racing Syndicate Pvt Ltd. A resident of Gamdevi, Surendranath owns several horses that race at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse. Over the years, he amassed a significant collection of trophies from these races, many of them studded with gold and silver, which he kept securely in his ground-floor residence.
A Trusted Employee Turns Suspect
According to the police complaint, the accused, Rajendra Benudhara Jena (42), a native of Shikharpur in Odisha, had been working as a full-time domestic help at Surendranath's residence for the past five years. For the last six months, Jena had even started staying at the 2BHK flat, which gave him unrestricted access to all areas of the home.
The plot began to unravel on November 23, 2025, when Jena informed his employer that he needed to travel to Kolkata for a couple of days due to some urgent work, promising a swift return. However, when he failed to turn up after several days, Surendranath tried calling him. Jena stopped taking the calls, and his mobile phone eventually became unreachable.
The Discovery and Police Action
Growing increasingly suspicious due to Jena's prolonged absence and lack of communication, Surendranath decided to check his valuables on January 2. To his horror, he discovered that his entire collection of trophies and other valuables, collectively valued at Rs 15.24 lakh, was missing from the residence.
Surendranath immediately approached the Gamdevi police station to report the theft. A police team visited his home to verify the claims. After confirming that the trophies were indeed missing, the police formally recorded Surendranath's statement and registered a case of theft against Jena on January 4.
An officer from the Gamdevi police station stated, "Police are on the lookout for Jena. If the accused sold the trophies, it could be recovered." The police have launched a manhunt to trace the domestic helper and recover the stolen trophies, which hold significant sentimental and monetary value.
