A series of carefully planned thefts at the Mumbai residence of Manoj Tiwari has finally been brought to light after hidden CCTV footage revealed how a former servant repeatedly entered the house using duplicate keys and stole cash over a prolonged period. The case, which spans nearly two years, came to a turning point after the latest theft was captured on camera, leading to the arrest of the accused and providing clarity on how a total of ₹5.40 lakh was stolen in multiple incidents from the BJP MP’s flat in Andheri West.
The pattern of thefts and how suspicion slowly emerged
The matter dates back to June 2025, when the first major theft was discovered at Manoj Tiwari’s flat located in Sundarban Apartment, Shastri Nagar, Andheri West, Mumbai. At the time, ₹4.40 lakh in cash was found missing from the house. The incident caused concern, but there were no immediate leads, no eyewitnesses, and no clear evidence pointing to the identity of the person responsible. As a result, despite the seriousness of the theft, the accused remained unidentified and the case did not progress significantly.
Over the following months, the household remained on alert, yet there were no clear signs of forced entry or disturbance that could explain how someone had accessed the flat. The absence of visible break-in marks led to growing suspicion that the person behind the theft may have been someone familiar with the house layout, routines, and security gaps. However, without concrete proof, the matter remained unresolved.
In December 2025, as concerns about security deepened, a crucial decision was taken to install a secret CCTV camera inside the flat. The intention was to discreetly monitor any unusual activity without alerting a potential insider. This step proved decisive. The camera was positioned to detect movement during late-night hours, a time when the house was expected to be secure and unoccupied.
On the night of January 15, motion alerts from the CCTV system were triggered. Upon reviewing the footage, it became clear that an individual had entered the house late at night and moved with confidence through the rooms. By the next morning, it was discovered that ₹1 lakh in cash had been stolen. This time, however, there was undeniable visual evidence capturing the intruder’s identity and method of entry.
The CCTV footage revealed that the man entering the house was not a stranger. He was identified as Surendra Kumar, a former servant who had worked at Manoj Tiwari’s residence approximately two years earlier. The clarity of the footage left little room for doubt and finally provided the missing link that investigators had been searching for since the first theft months earlier.
Duplicate keys, insider access, and the arrest of the accused
According to details that emerged during the police investigation, Surendra Kumar had gained access to the house by using duplicate keys that he had secretly made while he was still employed there. During his time as a servant, he became familiar with the household’s routines, entry points, and storage areas, particularly the bedroom where cash was often kept. This insider knowledge allowed him to enter the flat without forcing locks or raising immediate suspicion.
It was further revealed that Surendra Kumar had been dismissed from his job after earlier suspicions arose regarding unauthorised access to the house. However, by that time, he already possessed multiple duplicate keys. After being fired, he allegedly continued to return to the flat at intervals, using those keys to enter quietly and steal money. The theft in June 2025, in which ₹4.40 lakh was taken, is believed to be the first major incident carried out after his dismissal.
The January 15 theft followed a similar pattern. CCTV footage showed Surendra Kumar entering the flat confidently, walking directly to the bedroom, and leaving without causing any visible disturbance. His familiarity with the premises was evident in his movements, reinforcing the conclusion that the crimes were carried out by someone with prior access and trust.
Following the CCTV discovery, Manoj Tiwari’s manager, Pramod Jogendra Pandey, approached Amboli Police Station and filed a detailed complaint on January 15. The footage was handed over to the police as key evidence. Based on this material, officers registered a case and launched an immediate operation to locate and arrest the accused.
Surendra Kumar was arrested shortly thereafter. During questioning, investigators connected him to both the June and January thefts, establishing that a total of ₹5.40 lakh had been stolen over multiple incidents. The arrest brought closure to a case that had lingered for months without clarity, highlighting the crucial role played by surveillance technology in solving the crime.
The incident has drawn attention to the vulnerabilities that can arise from insider access and the importance of reviewing security measures even in seemingly secure residential complexes. It also underscores how trusted domestic staff, if not carefully monitored after termination, can pose serious risks when duplicate keys are misused.
For Manoj Tiwari and his family, the arrest marked the end of a prolonged period of uncertainty and concern. For the police, the case stood as an example of how patience, technology, and timely reporting can come together to unravel crimes that initially appear difficult to solve.
