Bengaluru airport staffer steals bangle from IIM student, arrested: report

On returning to Bengaluru on December 17, the woman approached airport officials where she was informed that the staffer who had found the bangle had thrown it into the dustbin, presuming that it was not gold. (Representational Image).

A Bengaluru airport staffer was arrested for allegedly stealing a gold bangle from a 25-year-old Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore student, a Times of India report said.

The student, who was flying to Delhi, wrote in her complaint that she lost the bangle-weighing 11 grams and costing Rs 85,000-at the departure gate number 5 of Terminal 2 of the airport on December 5 and felt that the bangle had slipped off her hand after passing through the check-in counter.

"It was a bangle with a clasp and worth Rs 85,000. It had loosened and slipped off my hand. I realised it only when I reached the departure gate. I was sure the bangle came off after the check-in counter and near the departure gate. I informed the authorities concerned. As the flight was to take off around 10.45pm, they took my details and assured me of checking the CCTV cameras," the woman said.

Based on the complaint, police authorities arrested 20-year-old Mohammed Azad, a staffer at the house keeping services of the airport. After reaching Delhi, she called Bengaluru airport and was informed that her bangle was found.

On returning to Bengaluru on December 17, the woman approached airport officials where she was informed that the staffer who had found the bangle had thrown it into the dustbin, presuming that it was not gold.

The woman was advised not to file a police complaint and was offered a compensation of Rs 35,000 from the house keeping services department.  She refused the money and went ahead with the complaint.

"I realised I won’t get a single penny and insisted that police register an FIR. Why would somebody throw a bangle in the dustbin, even if it isn’t a gold one ?" she said.

Azad was taken into custody, but later released on bail.