Models at war

Mumbai’s police files just got more glamourous, with top model Shivani Kapur’s boyfriend, Siddharth Nath, and Sunsilk Femina Miss India Earth 2003 Shweta Vijay forming the star cast of an NC filed at the local police station.
Rupali Palekar, a domestic worker who performs odd jobs at the homes of Kapur and Vijay, has complained that Siddharth allegedly bullied and threatened her into handing over the keys to Shweta’s apartment, which had been entrusted to her when Shweta was going abroad on work.
“On January 4, at 12.30 pm, as I was cleaning Shivani and Siddharth’s home, Siddharth asked me for the keys to Shweta’s house,� she alleges. “When I refused, he threatened to hit me, and I succumbed. Two days later, when, after repeated requests, the keys had still not been returned, I approached Shweta’s friend Anaida, her uncle Nitin and the landlord. An NC was filed at the police station.
Under the supervision of the landlord’s representatives, we broke open the lock and found an Akai 29-inch TV, a DVD player and some of the prizes Shweta had received for winning the pageant missing.� The landlord, Aaftab, confirms having sent his representative to supervise the break-in, and agrees that the items were indeed missing.
Anaida says: “When Rupali came to me, I was in bed due to a ligament problem and I could not get out. So I informed Shweta, who was in London, about what had happened, and advised the maid to put another lock on the door, so nobody could get in.� Rupali’s story continues: “I went back to the police after we found the items missing, and they told me that I had nothing to worry about because I had already filed a complaint.
However, in the next two days, Shivani’s aunt Sheila Kapur sorted matters out, and Siddharth returned the items to Shweta’s uncle.�
Shweta confirms the incident: “I was shocked beyond words. Besides being a successful model, Shivani was a neighbour and a friend. It is impossible for me to leave my work and return, but my mum will be in Mumbai in a couple of days. My crown and other valuables are still in the apartment, so I am worried.�
Repeated attempts to contact Shivani, Siddharth and Sheila failed. Aaftab says: “Shivani and Siddharth had jointly leased the flat from me, and their term expired on December 25. After an extension of about two weeks, they vacated my flat. I believe Shivani has gone back to the UK, while Siddharth is in Delhi.�
jamal.shaikh@timesgroup.com