Daijiworld Media Network - Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai, Nov 9: In a heartwarming example of honesty, a 28-year-old auto-rickshaw driver, Santosh Shirke, from Ghansoli, returned a passenger’s bag containing gold ornaments worth Rs 16 lakh that had been accidentally left behind in his vehicle on Thursday.

According to API Ravindra Narote of Vashi Police Station, the incident unfolded when Santosh Motilag, a Ghansoli resident, went to Vashi railway station to receive his mother, who had just returned from a Kashi pilgrimage with a group of devotees.

The mother-son duo hired Shirke’s auto from the station and travelled to Juhugaon, where the woman resides. After dropping her off, Motilag realised that one of their bags — containing gold ornaments weighing 120 grams and some clothes — had been left behind in the auto.

Worried, Motilag informed a friend who is also an auto driver. His friend quickly shared a message about the lost valuables on a WhatsApp group of local auto-rickshaw drivers. To everyone’s relief, it was soon discovered that Shirke had already deposited the bag at the Autorickshaw Union office near Vashi railway station.

Motilag rushed to the union office, and the bag was then taken to Vashi Police Station, where Shirke identified the rightful owner. After verification, the valuables were safely handed back to Motilag.

API Narote said, “Motilag was overwhelmed by Shirke’s honesty. He offered him a cash reward in gratitude, but Shirke politely declined, saying he had only done his duty as a responsible citizen.”

Praising his integrity, police officials described Shirke as a man “with a heart of gold who chose moral values over greed.” He was felicitated at Vashi Police Station for his exemplary honesty and public spirit.