The killer abbreviation

Navi Mumbai: An abbreviation can mean the difference between life and death. Three men who presumed 'cr' on Suman Hande's bank passbook meant crore, when it stood for credit, hatched an elaborate plan to rob and murder her. The APMC police has arrested the accused.

The main accused, Vijay Atmaram Bansode, who was working at an Aadhar card centre in Turbhe, met Hande (70), when she went there to change the address on her Aadhaar card. “Bansode thought she had cash worth crores in her account,” Senior Police Inspector Rajendra Galande from APMC police station said. Bansode then told Hande she could avail of a 'widow pension' scheme from the government, which he could help her with. He offered to visit her home to collect the necessary documents. He also told her she should withdraw all her money from the account as only those with low balance in their accounts could avail of the scheme. Police said Ms. Hande had ₹15,000 in her account.

Bansode, along with Yallappa Dhulappa Hadimani and Atul Babruvan Kamble visited her on May 17, smothered her to death and made away with valuables. On May 19, a neighbour noticed a foul smell emanating from the flat, opened it using a spare key and found her dead. When Hande's family opened her cupboard, they found her belongings missing and suspected foul play. Assistant Police Inspector Rahul Rakh and his team on Saturday arrested Bansode and his accomplices over the next few days.

The accused have been remanded to police custody till June 5. Valuables worth ₹81,500 have been recovered from the accused.