Nagpur: In a shocking case of theft during public transport travel, gold jewellery weighing 140 grams and valued at over Rs 16 lakh was stolen from a woman’s suitcase while she was travelling in an auto-rickshaw within the jurisdiction of Nandanvan Police Station.
The victim, Vaishali Harish Athawale (47), a resident of Kanatoli in Gondia district, had arrived in Nagpur with her husband on Monday to attend a relative’s wedding. The couple reached Nagpur by train around 5 pm and hired an auto-rickshaw from the railway station to Ishwar Nagar, where Vaishali’s father resides.
Gold Rate
26 Oct 2025
When the vehicle reached Ashok Chowk, the auto driver unexpectedly stopped and instructed the couple to shift to another auto, claiming it would go towards their destination. The second auto already had three children seated in the back, and Vaishali was asked to sit with them while her husband sat in the front seat beside the driver. The auto reached Ishwar Nagar at around 5.50 pm.
Upon reaching home, Vaishali opened her suitcase only to discover that the gold ornaments were missing. She suspects that one of the children in the auto may have stolen the jewellery during the journey.
Shocked by the incident, she rushed to the Nandanvan Police Station and filed a complaint. Police have registered an offence of theft and initiated an investigation, including efforts to identify and trace the auto-rickshaw drivers involved.
Further probe is underway.
