Mumbai: Auto driver returns bag with Rs 14 lakh cash and gold, despite being debt-ridden himself

This picture has been used for representational purpose

An autorickshaw driver from Mumbai who has been unable to repay his loan which he took to buy his vehicle returned Rs 14 lakh cash and gold left behind by a passenger on Sunday. The rickshaw driver identified as Iftikhar Shaikh (40), was felicitated by the city police for his honesty.

Touched by the felicitation, Iftikhar, a Mira Road resident, said that he has lived his life on the principle of honesty.

According to a report in the Times of India, on Sunday, Iftikhar picked up a woman passenger identified as Nazneen Shaikh, and dropped her on the highway at Kashimira. The woman was to take a bus to Gujarat. Later, Shaikh ferried a few passengers in and around Mira Road before returning home.

The next days, while he was cleaning his auto, Shaikh found a bag in the space behind the passenger seat, which had cash and jewellery inside. He immediately drove to Kashimira police station and handed over the bag to the police. Shaikh also gave details of passengers he had dropped on Sunday but was not sure as to whom the bag belonged to.

Meanwhile, the police found a cellphone in the bag and the number was traced to Nazneen who abandoned her trip to Gujarat due to the lost bag. Although she had looked for the rickshaw driver, she did not go to the police.

Police officials at Kashimira verified her details and handed over the bag containing valuables to her. The police has also called Iftikhar in order to confirm if he had dropped Nazneen on Sunday.

This is when the cops learnt that Shaikh had taken a loan to buy the autorickshaw. During the COVID-19 enforced lockdown, Shaikh's business suffered and since then, he has not been able to repay monthly installments of the vehicle since October. Iftikhar told the police that he was working overtime to save money and repay the loan.