Karnataka: Challakere Teacher Returns ₹4 Lakh Gold To Owner, Wins Praise For Honesty

A Challakere teacher won praise for honesty after finding a purse containing gold jewellery worth nearly ₹4 lakh and handing it to police. The valuables belonged to a jewellery shop owner who had lost the purse while travelling on her scooter.

A jewellery shop owner in Challakere had a tense few moments after losing a purse containing gold worth nearly ₹4 lakh while returning home on Thursday evening. The jewellery was being carried to fulfil a customer's order ahead of the Varamahalakshmi festival. However, what began as a distressing incident ended on a heartwarming note when a teacher, Vishwanath, found the purse and handed it over to the police, ensuring that the valuable jewellery was safely returned to its owner.

Jewellery Lost On Way Home

Suma Venkatesh, owner of Tirumala Gold Shop, was travelling home on her scooter when the purse accidentally fell from the vehicle as she crossed a road bump.

The purse contained gold jewellery worth nearly ₹4 lakh, which Suma was carrying to deliver to a customer for the Varamahalakshmi festival. Realising that the purse was missing, she immediately approached the police and reported the incident.

CPI K Kumar spoke to Suma and asked her for details about the missing purse. When he learnt that her mobile phone was also inside it, he began tracking its location.

Police Track Purse Using Phone

A team of around 10 police personnel rushed to the location indicated by the phone tracker.

When the police reached the spot, they found teacher Vishwanath, who had already picked up the purse. He informed the officers that he had found it on the road.

The police checked the purse at the spot and found that the jewellery was still inside. The valuables were subsequently handed back to Suma, bringing her considerable relief.

"The entire incident, from the purse being lost to its recovery, was over in just half an hour," Inspector K Kumar said.

Teacher Praised For Honesty

While Suma was relieved to recover the jewellery, especially on the auspicious occasion of Varamahalakshmi, teacher Vishwanath has been widely praised for his honesty and integrity.

His decision to hand over valuables worth lakhs of rupees to the police has been appreciated as an example of responsible citizenship.

The public has also praised CPI K Kumar and his team for their prompt response and for using the phone's location to trace the missing purse within a short time.