Some funny and hilarious incident in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka has left a chicken shop owner in surprise after the rat was reported to have taken the currency notes from his cash box and used them to build a nest.
The unusual incident took place at Jam-Jam Chicken Shop in Ajjampura town where shop owner Siddiq noticed that small denomination currency notes were regularly disappearing from his cash box. The missing notes were reportedly ₹10, ₹20 and ₹50 denominations.
Siddiq did not pay much attention to the missing money because the amounts involved were quite small. But as the number of missing notes increased over several days, he began to suspect that someone could be stealing money from the shop.
What happened next to the shop owner was something the shop owner certainly wasn't expecting.
The Unusual ‘Thief’ Revealed
Siddiq tried his best to find out where all the money was going and began checking different corners of the chicken shop. As he searched, he came across a plastic cover in a corner of the premises.
When he investigated the area, he found the real culprit—a rat—he said.
But the discovery was even more surprising when he saw what the rodent had made for its nest.
Instead of just grass, paper scraps or other commonly available materials, the rat had apparently dragged currency notes from the shop’s cash box and incorporated them into its nest. The stolen ₹10, ₹20 and ₹50 notes had apparently been transformed into bedding and nesting material.
The sight apparently left Siddiq shocked and amused at the same time.
A ‘Rich Rat’ in Chikkamagaluru
The incident has now become a talking point among locals, and the rodent was described as a “rich rat” because of its unusual choice of nesting material.
The rat’s behavior is particularly funny because the notes were not necessarily eaten as food. Rather, the animal carried them away and used them to make its sleeping area more comfortable.
But for Siddiq, the discovery solved the mystery of the missing money.
What was thought to be theft by someone could be the work of a little rodent in the store.
The situation has also attracted attention because similar stories in Karnataka of rats stealing valuable items have emerged in the past.
From gold to currency notes
The Chikkamagaluru incident comes as memories of another rodent-related incident reported from Karnataka, where a rat was said to have taken away gold jewellery.
While that incident involved valuable ornaments, the rat in Ajjampura seems to have developed a taste for cash.
The amusing episode has led people to joke about the animal’s “financial planning” and unusual taste for currency notes.
Given the Ganapati festival around the corner, this incident has gained particular attention as Lord Ganesha is associated with the mouse, or Mushika, as his vehicle. The rodent’s unexpected behavior has since become humorous among residents and on social media.
Why would a rat take currency notes?
Rats are known for collecting and moving materials that can be used to create nests. Paper, cloth, cardboard, plastic, and other soft materials can become nesting material.
Currency notes, especially paper-based notes, may attract rodents because they can be torn, moved and incorporated into a nest. The animal is not necessarily interested in the value of the notes; it may simply see them as suitable material for nesting.
In this case, the location of the cash box may have made it relatively easy for the rat to access the notes and transport them to its hiding place.
The Mystery Finally Solved
For several days, Siddiq wondered where the small-denomination notes were disappearing. Once the nest was discovered, the mystery was finally solved.
The incident is funny because keeping food businesses clean and keeping cash and other items safe from rodents is important. Rats can move through very small spaces and may hide in corners that are difficult to investigate regularly.
What began as a suspected case of petty theft has now turned into one of Chikkamagaluru’s most unusual viral stories—a rat allegedly stealing money not to spend it, but to build itself a surprisingly luxurious nest.
The “money-loving rat” of Ajjampura has certainly managed to turn an ordinary chicken shop into the centre of an extraordinary tale.
