Pune rickshaw driver returns bag containing Cash, Gold Ornaments to Couple

The honesty of a 60-year-old rickshaw driver in Pune shone through the gloom of coronavirus pandemic, lockdown and financial despair all around as he returned a bag containing cash and jewellery totaling ₹ 7 lakh to its rightful owner.

The police officials reported that on Wednesday, a couple had boarded the three-wheeler of Vitthal Mapare at Keshav Nagar area and alighted at Hadapsar bus-stand, leaving behind the bag.

Narrating the chain of events, Mr Mapare said "I moved ahead and went to BT Kawade road where I parked my vehicle to have tea. It is then that I noticed this bag lying on the back seat. I did not open it and took it to Ghorpadi chowky nearby and deposited it with sub-inspector Vijay Kadam there," 

While speaking to sources, Sub-inspector Kadam said, "On opening the bag as per procedure, we found gold ornaments weighing 11 tolas, Rs 20,000 cash, all totalling Rs 7 lakh, and some clothes. We contacted Hadapsar police station as the couple had alighted there."

"Hadapsar police told us Mahboob and Shanaz Shaikh had already approached them with a missing bag complaint. The bag was handed over to them at Mundhwa police station and Mapare was felicitated by Deputy Commissioner of Police Suhas Bawche," the Sub- inspector added.

It is to be mentioned that Mapare has been driving the auto-rickshaw for many years. He lives in a rented house while his son works in a private firm.

Mr Mapare expressed his joy saying that he was happy with the praise that he was getting over the past two days and considered it his greatest reward in life.

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