A shocking betrayal of trust came to light after a Kolkata-based businessman lost Rs40 lakh in cash — allegedly stolen by his driver of 20 years, Ramkewal Sharma. The incident unfolded when the businessman parked his car near a temple in south Kolkata and returned to find both the vehicle and Sharma missing.
Sharma, a native of Uttar Pradesh and a long-serving member of the family’s household staff, had previously handled large sums of money for his employer. However, this time, he reportedly fled with the cash while his employer was inside the temple.
“Based on a tip-off, we arrested the accused from a hotel in Buddha Nagar, Bhubaneswar, on Sunday,” said an officer from Rabindra Sarobar police station. “We recovered Rs38.9 lakh from his possession.”
Sharma was produced before a court in Bhubaneswar and was brought to Kolkata on a transit remand. He has been charged under IPC sections for theft and criminal breach of trust.
The businessman had reportedly collected the ₹40 lakh as client payments and had stored it in his car under Sharma’s supervision. The betrayal has stunned the family, who had entrusted Sharma with their finances for over two decades.