Shock at trust betrayed - Murdered lady often invited robbery mastermind to lunch

The alleged mastermind of the Bidhan Nivas robbery that led to the murder of a 93-year-old woman was the estate’s most trusted guard and often invited to lunch by the victim.

Nadia resident Swadesh Mukherjee, who started working as a guard at the Ultadanga estate around Puja 2009, have been arrested along with four others in connection with the robbery and the murder.

“We trusted him the most,” said Surya Narain Bhattacharya, the son of 93-year-old Shanta, who had been throttled to death by the robbers last Wednesday.

“He was like a family member and was respectful of my mother. She often asked him to lunch with her at our house. I cannot believe he had masterminded the robbery.”

Bhattacharya, a Chennai-based senior executive of Air India, broke down while speaking to Metro about Swadesh’s association with his family. “Why, he even attended my mother’s shradh on Saturday and there was no trace of guilt on his face! How can one be so cold-blooded?”

Bhattacharya said his mother liked Swadesh because she, too, was from Nadia. “Whenever my mother stayed alone she would ask Swadesh to shop for her from the local market. He would readily do so. The two bonded well and chatted for hours together at our flat.”

Swadesh’s colleagues and residents of the estate said it was impossible to make out from his behaviour that he was associated with the crime.

From 8am to 7pm, the estate used to be guarded by three men headed by Swadesh. Amal Roy, one of the guards on Swadesh’s shift, was manning the entry on Wednesday morning but the accused shifted him to the rear gate.

“Swadesh alone was at the entry around the time the robbers left the estate. After the crime, he shouted at us and blamed us for the lax security. He then started searching the estate and frisking the labourers. When the victim’s body was brought to the estate the next day, Swadesh placed a wreath on it and lit incense sticks. He even cried, saying the killers must get harshest punishment,” recalled Roy.

The residents said Swadesh had been the most active among the guards since the murder in frisking visitors and labourers and inspecting the estate.

“He was the most active and trusted among the guards. Some residents even used to keep their keys with him while they were away,” said Kasinath Pal, a resident.