Train cleaner returns Rs 9 Lakh worth jewels found in toilet

MYSORE: Displaying honesty a train cleaner returned a box containing gold jewels worth Rs nine Lakh found in a train toilet at City Railway Station here on Sunday. According to railway police, the ornaments belonged to one Sheik Mohammed, hailing from Polibetta in Kodagu, who had lost his bag containing valuables midway while traveling with his daughter Nissara and grandchild from Chennai to Mysore by Cauvery Express. Sheik Mohammed, who boarded the train at Chennai last night, found the bag containing a cell phone, Rs 5,000 cash and jewels worth Rs nine Lakh missing when the train stopped at Mandya. He made a frantic search for the bag in the compartment in vain. Following this, he lodged a complaint with the Railway Police in Mandya itself and continued his journey to Mysore in the same train which reached the city station. Meanwhile, one contract cleaner Channabasappa, while cleaning the compartments of Dharwad-Mysore Express, found a Tiffi n box in a toilet. On opening it, he found gold ornaments wrapped in a piece of cloth which he promptly handed over to his Supervisor Mahindra. After discussing with Railway Junior Engineer Harish Kumar, they handed over the jewels to Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Dr Anup Dayanand Sadhu and the matter was informed to Railway Police. Sheik Mohammed, who was terribly upset over losing the gold, jewellery, lodged another complaint with the Railway Police in Mysore, who by then had received the valuables intact, thanks to the cleaner Channabasappa. Sheik Mohammed’s joy knew no bounds when the Railway Police informed him that they had found the ‘valuable’ Tiffi n box and handed over the same to him after thorough verifi cation of the items. Railway Police said, the culprit, after lifting the bag, might have traveled up to city in the same train and hopped onto the Dharwad Express that was stationed next to Cauvery Express. The curious thief, who might have got into a toilet to empty the bag in a hurry, away from the prying eyes. He escaped with the cell phone and the cash of Rs 5,000 and abandoned the ‘valuable’ Tiffi n box in the toilet itself presuming that it was of no use to him. Railway offi cials said Channabasappa was said to be an honest worker right from day one and had returned several expensive items found in trains many times.