Hiring a stranger without background verification proved costly for Ranchi-based businessman Ravindra Kumar Tibrewal as his driver Anil Bhagat decamped with cash worth Rs 26 lakh from his residence.
Ironically, Tibrewal, who is the resident of Kanke road, trusted Bhagat as a loyal employee, who was serving Tibrewal from the past many years.
Now, the victim has lodged an FIR at Gonda police station requesting police to arrest the driver and recover his money.
“The accused has been identified as a native of Mandar of Ranchi and we are carrying out raids at his possible hideouts and places. But he has kept his mobile phone switched-off. We are unable to get any clue out of the CDR and forensic analysis of his mobile phone. He has not contacted anybody nor has he used any other SIM card in his mobile phone. But we have collected documentary evidence of his identity. We will surely track him,” said an official of Gonda police station. A team of cops and officials have been involved in the investigation.
“The complainant had hired him without police verification, which is a gross procedural mistake. He was not even aware that the accused is a resident of Mandar. Strangely he even did not bother to demand any identity proof from the accused at the time of hiring. Hiring a stranger just on the basis of trust can prove costly,” said the official.
The accused committed theft and breach of trust when Tibrewal was battling for his life in the hospital. On April 24 he was hospitalized in a serious condition after he was diagnosed as Covid 19 positive. He remained in the hospital till May 28. Due Covid pandemic he could not deposit the cash in the bank that was collected from dealers. He kept the cash in the almirah at his flat in the apartment but he could not lock the almirah as he was suddenly shifted to hospital. Till he was in the hospital wife and children were staying with his mother who lives in the same apartment.
When he returned to his flat on June 18 he found the cash missing. Accused who had the access key of the flat allegedly ran away with cash. Complainant discovered that his driver had stopped working from May 11.