Bhubaneswar: Discovering an unclaimed bag stashed with wads of currency at a public place could tempt anybody into pocketing it without a second thought. But for Dusmant Kumar Sahoo (40), a differently abled and financially struggling spices vendor from Dumduma, it was honesty that prevailed.
Instead of usurping the ‘godsend’ money-filled bag he discovered at Baramunda bus stand in February and remaining discreet about it, Dusmant preferred to launch a social media campaign to trace its rightful owner.
The Discovery
“On February 23 evening, I noticed a bag lying near an obscure corner of the bus stand. Nobody was around. On opening it, I discovered cash inside. I waited for nearly two hours, but nobody came to claim it. Finally, I took it in my custody,” said Sahoo, who is wheelchair-bound.
Unlike most people, Dusmant chose not to hand the bag directly to police. “Since police are overburdened with crime prevention and investigation, I was unsure whether they would get time to look for the bag’s actual owner or not. I want to return it directly to the rightful owner,” he explained.
Still, he has kept the local police informed, sharing his phone number and staying in touch in case anyone files a missing report. “I am in touch with the police,” Dusmant added.
Social Media Campaign
Since then, Dusmant has been posting daily video appeals on social media, sharing only limited details to prevent fraud. “I disclosed only that the bag contained cash. I deliberately withheld information about other personal items inside so that only the actual owner identifies those,” he said.
However, Dusmant’s honesty has come at a cost — his mobile doesn’t stop ringing with hordes of fake claimants every day — sometimes up to 200 calls, besides messages of gratitude from well-wishers.
“I can easily spot imposters. They fail to describe the bag correctly, the denomination of currency, or the circumstances of its loss,” he said.
Money Not Counted
Remarkably, Dusmant has not even counted the money. “I have no inclination to count it. The bundles are in Rs 500, Rs 200, Rs 100 and Rs 50 notes,” he said.
As Dusmant continues his search, waiting patiently for that ‘one caller’ who can provide him with all the correct answers to reclaim the bag, he said, “Keeping the cash at home is also fraught with risk. If I fail to find its genuine owner, I may either deposit the cash in a bank until the rightful claimant emerges, or donate the money to a charitable organisation.”
