Lost and found: Jagdane (second from left) and Kasabe (extreme right) helped recover Dhavale’s misplaced bag from Kalyan railway station. (Image: Abhijit Deshmukh)
A bag containing Rs 90,000 in cash, four debit cards and a cheque book was returned by two Government Railway Police (GRP) constables within just 30 minutes of being stolen.
According to the police, an accountant, who was returning from a bank in Bhandup after withdrawing salaries meant for his colleagues, lost the bag, only to have constables find it and return it to him in just 30 minutes.
Rupesh Kumar Dhavale, was on his way back from a private bank in Bhandup to his residence in Kolsewadi, Kalyan (East). When he had reached Dombivli on the Kalyan slow train around 10 pm on Saturday, he realised that his bag, which contained the cash, was missing.
"Initially, when I boarded the train from Bhandup, I did not get a place to sit. Near Diva station, I got a window seat and was looking out. Suddenly, I noticed that the bag that I had put on the overhead rack was missing. I immediately started inquiring with commuters about a black laptop bag," said Dhavale.
He added, "I immediately got the number of the GRP control room and called to inform them that I suspected I had lost my bag containing Rs 90,000 in cash in a Kalyan-bound local train that would reach Kalyan around 10.24 pm," Dhavale.
Kalyan GRP personnel rallied into action. "When we got the information, my colleague Nana Kasabe and I immediately rushed to the station and made our way to platform number 1. We found that the train had stopped, and commuters had mostly dismounted from the train. We reached the compartment and saw the last commuter stepping down. He was carrying the black laptop bag; he immediately handed it over to us, saying that somebody had left it behind," said Anil Jagdane, police constable of Kalyan GRP.
Jagdane and Kasabe then informed the GRP control room about the bag. After meeting Dhavale, the two constables returned the bag to him.
"I was surprised by the quick response of the GRP constables. I had never anticipated that the police department could be so helpful and prompt. When I got down at Dombivli, a man walked down to me and gave me the number for the GRP control room. I did not expect them to help much, but wanted to try my luck. The cash belonged to my company. I had to pay the salaries of our employees with it," said Dhavale.
"Till date, I have returned bags belonging to several people. Last year, I returned a bag containing 0.5 tolas of gold. I have also returned two laptops. Nobody should take advantage of another person's problem," said Jagdane.