Chennai Sanitation Worker Finds 45 Lakh Gold in Garbage, Returns to Owner

• Padma, a 45-year-old sanitation worker in Triplicane, Chennai, found a plastic bag containing 36 tolas of gold, valued at approximately 45 lakh rupees, in a garbage cart on Mupathu Amman Koil Street.
• Initially thinking it contained ordinary items, Padma was surprised to discover a gold necklace, earrings, and a bangle inside the bag.
• Instead of keeping the valuable find, Padma immediately informed her superiors, who then handed the gold over to the police after no one claimed it.
• Padma expressed empathy for the owner, stating she understood their mental anguish and wanted to alleviate their suffering by returning the gold.
• Police identified the owner as Ramesh, who had accidentally placed the jewelry bag in the garbage cart while talking to friends; the gold was returned to him after verification.

Why It Matters: A Chennai sanitation worker's honesty led to the return of 45 lakh rupees worth of gold to its forgetful owner.