Timely help for tipsy goldsmith

Getting drunk while travelling with gold bar worth almost Rs 27 lakh in addition to other valuables such as ornaments and cash is a sure recipe for most to get robbed.

Kirubananthavari, a goldsmith from Thiruppapuliyur in Cuddalore, did just that and was lying unconscious at the Cuddalore bus stand late on Friday night, when he was rescued by two policemen on patrol, who recovered his valuables and returned them.  Sub-inspector Rajendhran and head constable Sivasankar were rewarded by Superintendent of Police A Radhika on Saturday for their act. Kirubananthavari, who made jewellery for shops in Cuddalore, was travelling from Chennai in  a bus with a gold bar weighing 860 gm and worth Rs 27 lakh in his shirt pocket. He consumed liquor at Puducherry and fell unconscious after alighting at the Cuddalore bus stand. In addition to the gold bar, a mobile phone, purse with Rs 5000 in cash, a gold chain of three sovereigns and gold ring fell away from him as he lay unconscious.

Rajendhran and Sivasankar, who were on night patrol, noticed Kirubananthavari and recovered all his belongings and handed them to the SP’s office. The policemen also sent Kirubananthavari home by an auto and informed his family to collect his belongings on Saturday morning after due verification. Accordingly, SP Radhika handed the goldsmith his belongings on Saturday. She appreciated Rajendran and Sivasankar and presented them cash awards.