The victim, named Varsha Soni, works as an attendant in the Gynecology Department. On Sunday evening, a young man in a surgical mask entered while she was using a lift behind the blood bank. To avoid suspicion, he asked her which floor had the Ophthalmology department in a casual chat. When the elevator arrived on the third floor, the man stepped outside, but turned back abruptly and lunged at her.
CCTV footage shows the attacker trying to snatch both her gold pearl necklace and her mangalsutra. Despite Soni’s brave resistance, the assailant pushed her to the side and fled with the mangalsutra. The pearl necklace snapped in the struggle, falling to the ground.
Chain Snatching Incident Inside an Elevator of AIIMS Bhopal Raises Serious Security Concerns.#DrSJC pic.twitter.com/PQGs8T4MMf
— Dr Subhrajyoti Chattopadhyay (@Subhrajyoti_01) January 27, 2026
Security Lapses Exposed
The incident occurred during a shift when patient footfall was low owing to the Republic Day long weekend. Shockingly, there was no security guard present near the lift at the time of the attack. Soni was visibly shaken, sitting for nearly ten minutes by the elevator before an on-call security guard saw her and alerted senior officials. Initial investigations by the Baghsewania police suggest the accused escaped through the In-Patient Department (IPD) gate on a Sunday, potentially taking advantage of reduced staffing.
Investigation Status
A written complaint has been made, but police are currently studying CCTV footage from across the campus and nearby exit routes. The suspect must have gotten away on a two-wheeler waiting outside, sources said. The hospital administration has come under fire not just from the public, but also from staff, because there is no surveillance in a high-security zone. "Hospitals should be safe zones. This incident at AIIMS Bhopal underscores the urgent need for stricter security protocols and vigilant monitoring to ensure the safety of women in public spaces," one user posted on the viral clip.
