Man behind chemical attack held on Nalasopara hotel tip-off

The writer has posted comments on this articleMateen Hafeez & Sandhya Nair, TNN | Nov 11, 2012, 05.37AM IST

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MUMBAI: Film professional Jerrit John, 46, who was absconding after allegedly throwing a hazardous chemical on the face of Aryanka Hozbetkar at her Worli home, was nabbed by the Nalasopara police three days later on Saturday. He was hiding in a Nalasopara hotel and cops, tipped off by the staff, were able to identify him because he checked in with his real name and PAN and credit card details.

The Vashi resident who runs a production house was brought to the Dadar police station in the evening and arrested for Wednesday's attack.

He was in casual wear, wearing a T-shirt, three-fourth pants and a cap. When media persons tried talking to him, he gave them the finger.

Dhananjay Kulkarni, deputy commissioner of police, said John had purchased the chemical for Rs 100 from a Masjid Bunder shop and the attack was meticulously planned. John reportedly told police he purchased several chemicals and used one on Hozbetkar, a physiotherapist who had met him on a cycling trip. "We still don't know the identity of the chemical and are waiting for the analysis. Some sections invoked against John may be changed, or new sections added, if it is found he had planned something very harmful," said Kulkarni. A police team will visit the shop.

John was carrying the chemical in his car even during his first altercation with Hozbetkar after midnight on Tuesday, police said. He reportedly told cops that chemicals are used in his work at the production house and he bought additional chemicals during his last purchases.

Police said that after hurling the chemical, John first went to his Bandra office. He later hid in a hotel at Valsad in Gujarat before finally coming to Nalasopara. "John hid Hozbetkar's stolen mobile at his Bandra office, which we will recover soon," said an officer.

John, a married man with a son, and Hozbetkar were in a relationship that soured a month-and-a-half ago. After Wednesday's attack, the Dadar police, who had been tracking his cell, traced him on Friday to the Mira Road area, but couldn't locate him.

Early Friday morning, John reportedly switched off his phone and travelled to Nalasopara in an auto. He asked the driver about hotels and was taken to Manthan Hotel, a 20-room, hotel-cum-restaurant in Laxmi Chedda Marg, Nalasopara (W). Hotel manager Shivram Shetty said, "John checked in at around 2.30am on Friday. We took his PAN and credit card details and allotted him a room on the first floor."

John was wearing a T-shirt and jeans and didn't look suspicious, hotel sources said. He was carrying a suitcase and checked into Room 108, where he was provided water, soap and a towel. On Friday morning, he had tea and ordered a dosa from a nearly restaurant, but remained inside his room. He had tea in the evening and for meals had palak paneer, mixed vegetables and roti. He did not order liquor and didn't have any visitors, said Shetty.

On Saturday morning, the hotel's waiters, most of them from Karnataka, recognized his photo in the newspaper Karnakata Malla. "The PAN card photo matched the one in the newspaper," said receptionist Vishwanath Shetty. He informed the manager, who then alerted the hotel's owner Harish Shetty. Harish said, "I first cross-checked his details with the PAN card copy. The photograph matched. After being convinced, we called the Nalasopara police."

Even as the hotel staff were checking his credentials, John ordered tea and dosa from a nearby hotel. The hotel also collected Rs 450 as rent for the second day. Room boys said John remained in his room watching TV and did not appear tense or worried.

The police arrived at the hotel at around 11.30 am. John opened the door after a room boy called out. The police questioned him in the hotel before taking him to the Nalasopara police station. Additional superintendent of police, Thane Rural, Sangramsinh Nishandar, said, "John gave his real identity at the hotel. That is how it became easier to identity him." John's suitcase had his clothes, toothbrush and a shaving kit.

Police sources said John may have been planning to file for anticipatory bail, which was why he came from Valsad to Nalasopara. He had been reading newspapers and was keeping tabs on his case, said an officer. He has parked his vehicle in Nalasopara and police teams have left to seize it. The police will be questioning the Borivili woman who John tried to also attack on Wednesday. She is learnt to have filed an NC with the Borivili police.

John is the owner of the No Nonsense production house. Hozbetkar had returned from a cycling expedition late on Tuesday and was with friends when John argued with her. He left after snatching one of her phones. The phone had threatening SMSes he had sent her. He returned early on Wednesday morning and allegedly flung the chemical at her even as her shocked friends watched.

The two were in a relationship since December 19, 2011. John had himself been married for six years and has a five-year-old son. On October 31, Hozbetkar reportedly sent an email to John ending their relationship. John tried to convince her that he had applied for divorce.

John is currently charged with causing grievous hurt using dangerous means, theft and wrongful confinement.

When contacted for comments, Hozbetkar's mother Aarti refused saying, "Sorry, we are not in a proper frame of mind."