In a swift police action in Bhubaneswar, a cab driver was arrested on Thursday for allegedly robbing a passenger who had just returned from a trip to Thailand. The incident, which involved valuables worth lakhs of rupees, was resolved within hours of the complaint being filed.
Swift Police Action Leads to Arrest
The Chandrasekharpur police took Nageswar Parmanik (26), a resident of Mahanga in Cuttack district, into custody. The arrest came shortly after the victim, Aman Kumar Agarwal of Niladri Vihar, Bhubaneswar, reported the theft. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone-VI) Sonali Singh Parmar confirmed the details to reporters.
"We arrested him a few hours after receiving the complaint," stated ACP Parmar. The police successfully recovered all the stolen items from the accused. The haul included gold and diamond jewellery valued at approximately Rs 20 lakh, along with Rs 1 lakh in Indian cash and about 50,000 Thai Baht. Authorities also noted that Parmanik had been involved in some criminal cases previously.
How the Robbery Unfolded
The sequence of events began on Wednesday morning when Aman Kumar Agarwal landed at the Biju Patnaik International Airport from Thailand. To get home, he booked a ride through an app-based taxi service. According to Agarwal's complaint, the driver, Parmanik, asked him to step out of the vehicle near the Chandrasekharpur petrol pump under the pretext of needing to refill CNG.
"The moment I got down, he drove away with my belongings," Agarwal recounted. With his luggage and precious items still in the boot of the car, the passenger was left stranded as the cab sped off.
Consequences and Safety Measures
Following the complaint, the police used available information to track down the accused driver and seize the stolen valuables. In a move to prevent future offenses, the authorities have taken strict action against the driver's professional credentials.
The police have written to the taxi aggregator company requesting the cancellation of Nageswar Parmanik's registration. A senior officer emphasized further preventive steps, stating, "To ensure passenger safety, we will also ensure that he is not enlisted by any other taxi aggregator." This action aims to block the accused from using similar platforms to potentially target other passengers in the future.
The quick resolution of this case highlights effective police work but also serves as a cautionary tale for passengers using ride-hailing services, especially after long journeys.
