Scrap Dealer's Honesty Shines: Returns Rs 15 Lakh Gold Jewellery to Family in Faridabad
In a heartwarming tale of integrity, Haji Akhtar Khan, a scrap dealer from Faridabad, chose honesty over a potential windfall by returning nearly 100 grams of gold jewellery worth approximately Rs 15 lakh to its rightful owners, the Sharma family. This act of goodwill came six months after the jewellery was accidentally sold off with household trash, just before Diwali last year.
A Costly Mistake During Pre-Diwali Cleaning
The story began when the family of Ashok Sharma, an electrician, realized their precious ornaments had gone missing while preparing for Lakshmi puja in October last year. The jewellery, which included mostly bangles and earrings, had been stored in a small box placed inside a sack at their home before the family left for the Kumbh Mela in January. This was a precautionary measure to safeguard the valuables from theft during their absence.
However, during the routine pre-Diwali cleaning, the sack was mistakenly thrown out and sold as scrap. The trash eventually made its way to Khan, a 60-year-old scrap dealer who has been running his business on Agra Canal Road since 1992.
The Search and the Turning Point
Suspecting that the jewellery might have been inadvertently discarded, Sharma visited Khan's shop two to three times over the following months to inquire if anything had been found, but each time he returned empty-handed. Khan recalled that Sharma had come to his shop about two months before Diwali to sell some scrap during house cleaning, arriving in his own vehicle.
Khan explained that by the time the family approached him, he had already deleted the CCTV footage from his shop, which typically only stores recordings for 20 to 30 days. "Had they approached within 20 to 30 days of the scrap being sold, we could have checked the cameras. By the time they approached us, we had deleted the footage," he said.
The turning point occurred earlier this week when Khan, while sifting through scrap at his shop, noticed a plastic packet. "Someone might have kept it there thinking it was brass. But I had my suspicion," he recounted. Khan took the packet to a jeweller for verification, who confirmed it was 22-carat gold, weighing about 100 grams.
An Act of Integrity and Proper Handover
Immediately recognizing that the jewellery likely belonged to Sharma, Khan decided to return it without hesitation. "I was sure it belonged to Sharma ji and no one else. So, it had to be returned. We earn through hard work and cannot keep someone else's property. My family also agreed with me," he stated firmly.
To ensure a proper and transparent handover, Khan took the jewellery to a police station, where it was officially returned to the Sharma family. This gesture not only restored the family's lost valuables but also served as a powerful reminder of the value of honesty in everyday life.
The Sharma family, who had been searching for their Diwali gift for months, finally received their precious ornaments, thanks to Khan's unwavering principles and diligent efforts.
