Bhubaneswar: In an unusual twist, thieves who stole high-value saris from a government-run handloom outlet in Odisha's Angul district have returned the items, neatly packed in parcels. The incident has left store staff surprised and police determined to pursue legal action despite the restitution.
The Theft Incident
On April 11, a group of well-dressed women visited the Boyanika handlooms showroom in Angul district. After examining several sarees, they purchased only a kurta worth Rs 1,400. Later, staff discovered that 25 saris, valued at Rs 7.18 lakh, were missing. CCTV footage revealed the women concealing the saris under their clothes before leaving the store.
Boyanika lodged a police complaint the same night and shared the CCTV footage with authorities for identification. The videos soon went viral on social media, triggering a manhunt for the suspects.
The Surprise Return
On Saturday, store staff received a large courier packet containing 24 of the 25 stolen saris. "We were pleasantly surprised to find the saris returned," said store manager Rashmi Ranjita Pattnaik. Adding to the unusual turn of events, one of the suspects reportedly called a Boyanika employee to apologize. "The caller, a woman from Telangana, obtained our staff member's number from the kurta purchase bill. She requested withdrawal of the complaint, saying the viral video had caused embarrassment in their locality," a staff member said. They added, "We suspect that the women returned the saris apprehending arrest and further embarrassment."
Police Stand Firm
Despite the return of the stolen goods, police clarified that the crime remains punishable. "Even though they returned the saris, legal action will be taken as per law," said IIC, Angul police station, Prakash Chandra Majhi. The investigation continues as authorities work to identify and apprehend the suspects.
