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PUNE: Amit Tiwari burnt the midnight oil, well literally, in a garden-facing bungalow nestled in a leafy corner of Florida Estate in Keshavnagar, Mundhwa. Arrested on Friday by CBI officers for being part of the biggest international hacking network, Tiwari had been living for the last two-and-a-half years in this bungalow spread over an 8,300 square feet plot, where he had moved in for more space for his five dogs.
 
Residents here said Tiwari did not interact with anyone, but was occasionally seen using the gymnasium and swimming pool located on the premises. The owner of bungalow where Tiwari stayed as tenant described him as well-behaved and that he always paid rent on time, but that he would now evict him, even as his fiancee who lives with him maintained that Tiwari was innocent.
 
A TOI team visited bungalow number 45, Blue Ridge Manor in Florida Estate on Saturday. Tiwari’s fiancee, who was present at the bungalow, refused to divulge her name and also said that CBI officials had instructed her not to share any details of the action they had taken nor give out telephone numbers of Tiwari’s family to mediapersons. On much prodding, she told TOI that CBI officials had confiscated two laptops and documents from the bungalow on Friday. "Amit used to help the police crack cyber crime cases. He is being framed," she said. Cyber crime officials denied using Tiwari’s services ever.
 
The bungalow is owned by Xaahhabbi Kokoty, whose father Kapil Kokoty told TOI from Kolkata, "I used to live in this bungalow with my family and Tiwari was staying in the same society for the last four to five years in a smaller bungalow. He had twice changed his house and was looking for a bigger place because he had five dogs when I met him three to four months before renting him our bungalow."
 
Tiwari led a luxurious life. Security guards at the society said he owned two cars. Going rentals in the area for an accommodation this size are pegged at Rs 50,000 to RS 60,000 per month. Residents said he slept most of the time during the day, but noted they could see the lights on in his bungalow all night. "But we have no idea of his business," a resident said.
 
Amit’s father Colonel Vikram (retired) refused to speak to TOI.
 
Amit Tiwari’s house owner, Kapil Kokoty said on Saturday that he was now seeking legal opinion to evict him from his property. "We made a mistake by renting the place to Tiwari. We are consulting our lawyer to evict him from the bungalow," Kokoty said. He added that Tiwari had told them he had a computer business, but did not share details. "We found him to be a polite and well-behaved person. I used to interact with him on telephone on a regular basis. He paid rent on time," Kokoty stated. He added that he knew his father and that he was going to get married soon, but was not aware of his fiancee living with him. Kokoty admitted he had not furnished details of his tenant to Pune police.
 
His fiancee described Tiwari as a kind-hearted and a loving person and said she had been living with him for several years in Pune. She claimed that Tiwari was into computer business and refuted allegations that he was involved in hacking.
 
When asked to comment on CBI action, she said, "A CBI team visited on Friday afternoon. The CBI officials disclosed their identify and informed Amit about the cases registered against him in New Delhi and took him into custody and conducted searches inside the bungalow and seized laptops and some documents, but they did not give me the copy of the seizure panchanama."
 
She said the CBI officials were courteous, but they did not share the charges levelled against Tiwari. "I came to know about the false allegations levelled against him after reading newspapers on Saturday morning. I am depressed. Amit’s father, who is based in Lucknow, is a heart patient. His family is disappointed with the CBI action," she stated, adding the CBI did not record her statement. "Amit is innocent and has nothing to do with hacking. I will meet him when he is produced before the court in New Delhi on January 27. After speaking to him and his family, we will take a call on whether to make a statement to the media or not to deny CBI’s allegations," she said, shutting the door.
 
Society residents told TOI that Tiwari was thin and fair, and that he never interacted with them. "We just see him visiting the gym and swimming pool. He never shared details of his personal life with any person." The residents said he slept most of the time in the day and worked in the night. "We have no idea of his business. We came to know of his arrest on reading the newspapers. His arrest has come as a shock to the society members," a resident said.
 
Housing society officials said Kokoty had not given information of his tenant and copy of the leave and licence agreement to them till date. Tiwari too did not furnish any information about himself or his fiancee with the society. "Kokoty pays society charges on time," a housing society official said.
 
The society has 100 plots and 45 bungalows and round-the-clock security.