A routine journey turned into a costly lesson for a Bengaluru-bound passenger after a gold necklace worth ₹1.56 lakh was allegedly stolen during a KSRTC Airavat bus trip from Ernakulam.
Theft during overnight journey
Jayakumar R, who had travelled to Ernakulam for his son’s naming ceremony, was returning to Bengaluru on March 11 when the incident occurred. His wife had received a 55-gram gold necklace as a gift from his parents during the function.
During the journey, Jayakumar made a video call to his mother, who advised him to store the jewellery safely. Following her suggestion, he placed the necklace inside his bag and kept it in the overhead compartment behind his seat.
Necklace found missing on arrival
Upon reaching Bengaluru’s Shanthinagar Bus Station the next morning, Jayakumar discovered that the zip of his bag was jammed. On checking, he found the gold necklace missing.
He immediately filed a complaint with the Ashok Nagar police station.
Suspicion over overheard conversation
Jayakumar suspects that someone on the bus may have overheard his conversation about the jewellery during the video call and targeted his bag.
There were reportedly 21 passengers on board at the time.
No CCTV coverage in bus
When he enquired with bus staff, he was informed that the semi-sleeper Airavat bus was not equipped with CCTV cameras, making it difficult to trace the accused.
A cautionary reminder
The incident highlights the risks of discussing valuables in public spaces and keeping them in easily accessible areas during travel.
Authorities are expected to investigate the matter further, while passengers are advised to remain cautious about sharing sensitive information during journeys.