Mumbai: A bus conductor in Washim, Maharashtra, has been widely praised for returning Rs 24,000 that a passenger had accidentally left behind on his bus nearly two years ago.
The conductor, Raju Vani, found a small bag on a seat in April 2024 after all passengers had got down and the bus was taken back to the depot. Inside were currency notes worth Rs 24,000 and a doctor’s slip bearing the name Kasabai Gaikwad.
Hoping the owner would come back, he waited at the bus stand for about an hour and informed the enquiry counter, asking staff to direct anyone searching for the money to him. However, no one came forward even after weeks and months, and attempts to reach the phone number mentioned on the slip did not succeed.
Two years later, when an elderly woman boarded the same bus and asked for a ticket to Malegaon, Vani requested her Aadhaar card to verify her age, as travel is free for those aged 75 and above. He noticed that the name on the ID matched the name on the doctor’s slip.
After informing his senior officials and completing verification, the money was returned to the woman. She thanked the conductor and gave him Rs 1,100 as a reward, while many have continued to commend his honesty for safeguarding and returning the cash after such a long time.
