An old woman travelling from Bengaluru to Mysuru to visit her daughter was apparently the victim of a suspected theft after a fellow passenger allegedly befriended her, offered her tea and then disappeared from the bus. Chennamma, in her 50s, realised her 29-gram gold chain was missing after getting off the bus.
The incident took place during a journey that began at Bengaluru's Satellite Bus Station on September 25. Chennamma, a resident of Thimmanahalli in Doddaballapur, had left her home around 5:30 a.m. on September 25 to travel to Mysuru, where her daughter lives. She reached Satellite Bus Station around 8 a.m., bought her ticket and boarded a bus to Mysuru.
Stranger Sits Next to Woman and Gains Her Trust
According to the complaint, a man around 45 years old approached Chennamma and sat beside her, pretending to be a passenger. He was wearing a white shirt and black trousers.
The man allegedly struck up a conversation with the old woman and gradually developed a friendly rapport with her. He told her during the trip that he’d get tea for both of them. He left his bag beside her seat and went to purchase the drinks.
The man returned with two cups of tea and offered one to Chennamma. At first she refused to drink it, but the man tried to reassure her by saying she was like his mother and persuaded her to accept the tea.
Chennamma, believing the passenger's words, took the tea. She also gave him a pomegranate, apparently because she thought he was a trustworthy fellow passenger during their interaction.
Elderly Woman Falls Asleep On Her Journey
Chennamma fell asleep shortly after drinking the tea when she was travelling on the bus. The circumstances of her sleeping have been a key part of the police investigation.
The woman reported that once she got off the bus she realized her 29-gram gold chain was missing from her neck. She was shocked to discover that the precious jewellery had gone missing during the journey.
Chennamma immediately informed her son about what had happened, and reportedly expressed suspicion about the fellow passenger who had befriended her and offered her tea. She subsequently travelled home by car.
Police Register Case Under BNS
The next day Chennamma went to Byatarayanapura Police Station and filed a complaint about the missing gold chain. In her complaint, she said that she was worried that the man who sat next to her on the bus could have been to blame for the theft.
Police have registered a case under Sections 303 and 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for theft and cheating. The investigation is on, and the identity of the suspected passenger and the events during the journey are being reconstructed.
CCTV Footage Under Investigation
Police are checking available CCTV images to track the suspect’s movements. Investigators will look at footage from Satellite Bus Station and other locations to discover whether he boarded or left the bus.
But also elderly passengers travelling alone and taking food or beverages from strangers are thought to be at risk, the police say.
The investigation is in progress, and the exact circumstances of the gold chain will be determined from CCTV footage, witness accounts, and other evidence collected by the police.
