From Rasgullas to Resilience: How We Recovered Our Lost Scooty Against All Odds
TL;DR
On January 12, 2025, preparations for Chavani Pravesh with 35,000 rasgullas were in full swing when a scooty parked outside was stolen on the night of January 10. Despite filing a police report, local authorities, overwhelmed by Kumbh Mela duties, provided no immediate help. An e-FIR and CCTV footage revealed a drug addict had taken the vehicle. With the help of neighbors, the thief was caught, and the scooty was recovered. However, the process highlighted police inefficiencies and caused significant time, money, and effort losses.
The Night Before Chaos
The 12th of January 2025 was etched in our family calendar, a day of tradition and celebration. The revered Chavani Pravesh for Shri Panchayati Akhada Bada Udasin Nirwan was upon us. As per our age-old custom, we had prepared to welcome them with an astonishing 35,000 rasgullas. Sweet, soft, syrupy — yes, but there’s no time to drool over the details now.
It was the 10th of January, and the family was abuzz with activity. Ingredients were procured, deliveries scheduled, and raw materials stacked. Exhausted but satisfied, we parked our trusty scooty outside — like everyone else in the neighborhood had done since road construction for the Mahakumbh began. Then, we retired for the night, unaware of the storm brewing just hours away.
The Day of Impact
I’m no early riser, usually stirring around 10ish. But that morning, the steady, urgent knocks on my door shattered my dreams. Still half-asleep, I opened the door to find a visibly anxious family member. “Scooty kahan hai?” he blurted, dangling both keys in his hand.
Confused, I stepped outside with him — and the sight struck like lightning. The scooty was gone. Vanished. A cold chill raced down my spine as realization dawned. The day that was supposed to begin with rasgullas had started with a theft. But there was no time for panic. This was a test, and we had to rise to it.
While the rest of the family pressed on with the rasgulla preparations, I took charge of the investigation. Scooty theft or not, tradition waits for no one.
Chasing Shadows
Armed with the registration certificate, I marched to the police station, only to be redirected to the police chowki — thanks to jurisdictional gymnastics. Despite my annoyance at their outdated process (Zero FIR, anyone?), I kept my calm. My next call was to an old contact, a former in-charge of the chowki, who advised me to log the theft with the 112 emergency helpline.
The patrolling officers arrived promptly but had little to offer beyond sympathy. “We’re from Lucknow,” one said. “Deployed here for the Kumbh, so we’re not familiar with the area.” Helpful, right? Nevertheless, the theft was officially logged — a crucial step to safeguard ourselves from liability in case the scooty was used for any criminal activity.
The bureaucratic hurdles didn’t end there. My written theft application, submitted to both the station and the chowki, wasn’t acknowledged. I knew those papers were destined to serve as makeshift samosa plates for some officer later (a.k.a. Sahebs).
The Hunt Begins
The days that followed were a whirlwind of detective work. After failing to meet the local in-charge for two days, I filed an e-FIR through the UPCOP app — simple, quick, and a lifesaver. A word of advice: let ChatGPT help you draft it in Hindi. The police don’t take too kindly to English applications.
CCTV cameras became our lifeline. Though our shop cameras only covered the interior, neighbors with outdoor setups turned out to be our unsung heroes. By the night of the 11th, I had recordings in hand, but with the big day looming, there was no time to review them.
The Breakthrough
On Makar Sankranti, the 14th, after the ceremonial snaan, I finally sat down to analyze the footage. Two grueling hours of staring at screens paid off. There he was — a local drug addict, nonchalantly wheeling away our scooty. Adrenaline surged. We had our suspect.
A network of neighbors sprang into action, tracking his movements. The air was tense, but determination coursed through our veins. Then, just minutes after we dispersed, the call came: “We’ve got him!”
I rushed to the scene. There he stood, caught red-handed with our scooty and a pair of duplicate keys. Relief washed over us as we handed him over to the police, though their indifference — “Oh, it’s him again, a habitual offender” — was infuriating.
Problem with Police
The primary issue with the police was their lack of humility and disregard for citizens. Instead of providing support, they dismissed concerns, leaving us to navigate the ordeal largely on our own. At the police chowki, there was no proper front desk or backup officer; whenever I called, I was told, “Saab duty pe hai.” Does this mean crimes should pause because someone is on Kumbh duty? Their unwillingness to take accountability was even more frustrating — they refused to give a written acknowledgment for the theft application, leaving us uncertain if any action would be taken. As a citizen, I felt lucky to recover my scooty with the help of neighbors, but what about others who rely solely on the police? Would they have to wait months until after Kumbh, only to find their belongings damaged or lost forever?
When I initially wrote the application in English, I was mocked with comments like, “Wahan Hindi samajh nahi pate aur tum English likh rahe ho.” The situation was made worse when the thief was caught; the police recognized him as a repeat offender and dismissed him as “mental.” If they knew he was a habitual criminal, why wasn’t he behind bars? It’s infuriating to see taxpayers’ money being wasted while such inefficiencies and apathy persist in the system.
Victory with a Price
Though we recovered the scooty, the process was far from over. The vehicle had to be officially seized and released through the court. It wasn’t until the 24th that we brought it home, minus the full tank of petrol and with a few additional expenses.
Lessons from the Chaos
This ordeal tested every ounce of patience, resourcefulness, and resilience we had. From filing applications to analyzing footage, the key takeaways were clear:
- Time is critical; act swiftly.
- Maintain a record of every interaction, be it calls, applications, or footage.
- Never underestimate the power of social engineering and community support.
Despite the hurdles, we emerged victorious. The scooty was back, the rasgullas were a success, and our family traditions carried on — stronger and sweeter than ever.
