Sahar Police Book Thefts After Rs 6.5 Lakh Stolen From Russia-Bound Students' Bags

Sahar police have registered two FIRs against unidentified persons after two Indian students travelling to Russia from Mumbai airport reported the theft of foreign currency equivalent to Rs 6.5 lakh from their bags. The two students had departed on separate flights from Mumbai on August 26 and August 27 to resume their medical studies.

According to investigators, these complaints represent the first reported theft cases involving international flights registered at the Sahar police station. To identify the culprits, police have sought CCTV camera footage and requested detailed records of airline ground staff working at Mumbai airport.

The families of both students said the stolen money consisted of US dollars gathered through hard-earned personal savings and private loans. The cash was intended to pay for the students' college tuition fees and general living expenses for the academic year in Russia.

In one of the instances, 22-year-old Priya Gavai from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar reported that $2,000, equivalent to roughly Rs 1.96 lakh, went missing from her cabin baggage. Gavai had boarded an EgyptAir flight from Mumbai bound for Moscow via Cairo.

Her mother, 46-year-old schoolteacher Seema Ingle, said airline ground staff had instructed Gavai to place her purse inside her cabin bag. Later, after boarding, Gavai handed the bag to an airline crew member because overhead cabin storage space was unavailable on the aircraft. Upon landing at Cairo airport, Gavai inspected her luggage and discovered that the lock had been broken and the currency notes were gone.

Ingle alleged that airline personnel were involved in the incident and noted that the airline had declined to take responsibility or provide any reimbursement for the stolen funds. She explained that she had saved money from her teaching salary and borrowed Rs 2 lakh from a friend to cover her daughter's fourth-year MBBS fees and related costs.

The Sahar police registered the cases on August 31 and are continuing inquiries into both incidents.