Mumbai Crime: Salon owner locks mother-daughter in room, demands Rs 1.5 lakh; booked

Photo for representational purpose. Pic/ istock

The owner of a unisex salon in Malad was booked recently for allegedly locking a woman, her daughter and her niece inside a room for over an hour and demanding Rs 1.5 lakh from them, said police.

As per Malad police, the victims, Sonal Solanki (38), her daughter Priti (18), and niece Hema were locked inside a room of the salon by accused Soniya Shivlingam.

According to the complainant, Priti had been working for Shivlingam as a helper at the salon located at Chincholi Bunder at Malad link road at a salary of Rs 7,000.

In March 2021, Priti had taken Rs 50,000 from Shivlingam as advance and till the September had paid her back Rs 27,000 from her salary.

Solanki said that on September 19, Shivlingam took Priti's mobile phone for some time. When Priti asked to return the phone, the salon owner said that she would get it only after she paid the remaining advance amount.

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On Tuesday (September 21), Solanki and her niece Hema went to the salon to return Rs 20,000. After accepting the amount, Shivlingam said that Priti had broken a vase at the salon worth Rs 1.5 lakh and demanded the amount to be paid, said police.

Shivlingam told Solanki and Hema that she will not let them leave the premises without paying that amount.

The accused then asked Solanki to call Priti. Meanwhile, she locked the woman and her niece inside a room with a sensor lock system. When Priti arrived, Shivlingam locked her too with the two women for over an hour.

Later, Priti and Hema asked Shivlingam to let them go and get the money. Shivlingam agreed and let the two women out but kept Solanki.

As per police officials, Priti and Hema then approached the Nirbhaya squad of the Malad police station who reached the spot and rescued Solanki.

"The complainant then reached the police station registered an FIR against Shivlingam for threatening and confining her, her daughter and her neice," said senior inspector D Ligade from Malad police station.