Woman Robbed of Jewellery by Conman Posing as Hospital Staffer in Lucknow
A distressing incident of deception and theft unfolded at Balrampur Hospital in Lucknow, where a 60-year-old woman from Ambedkar Nagar district was allegedly robbed of her jewellery by a conman who posed as a hospital staffer. The perpetrator exploited the woman's trust by claiming her daughter had sent him, leading to a calculated theft on the hospital premises.
Details of the Alleged Robbery
According to an FIR registered at Wazirganj police station on Monday, the complainant, Dharamraji, wife of Mahendra Pratap, had traveled to Lucknow on February 7 for medical treatment at Balrampur Hospital. She was accompanied by her daughter, Sita, and son-in-law, Vijay Kumar. After undergoing an X-ray, Dharamraji was seated on the first floor of the Outpatient Department (OPD) while her daughter went to the dispensary to collect medicines and her son-in-law consulted a doctor regarding prescriptions.
During this vulnerable moment, an unidentified man approached her, called out her daughter's name, and asserted that Sita had sent him to escort her for a medical examination requiring her signature. He further claimed to know her daughter well. When Dharamraji called out for her daughter and received no response, she reluctantly followed the man.
The Deceptive Scheme Unfolds
Instead of leading her to a diagnostic room, the conman allegedly guided her outside the main hospital building and onto the roof of a structure near a garbage dump on the premises. There, he asked her to sit and wait, assuring her that her daughter would arrive shortly. After some time, he returned and instructed her to remove all her jewellery before the test, promising it would be returned after the procedure. Trusting his assurances, she handed over her ornaments.
The man then fled with the jewellery, leaving Dharamraji waiting alone on the rooftop. After a prolonged wait with no sign of her daughter or the man, she returned to the hospital and realized she had been cheated. The incident highlights the vulnerability of patients and visitors in crowded medical facilities.
Police Investigation Underway
SHO Wazirganj, Rajesh Kumar Tripathi, confirmed that an FIR has been registered under BNS Section 318(4), and efforts are actively underway to identify the accused. "We are examining CCTV footage from the hospital premises and nearby areas to trace the suspect," Tripathi stated. The police are also interviewing witnesses and reviewing hospital records to gather more clues about the conman's identity and movements.
This case underscores the need for heightened security measures in public hospitals to prevent such predatory crimes. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and verify the credentials of individuals claiming to be staff, especially in sensitive environments like healthcare settings.
