A 60-year-old Pune auto driver was lauded for his honesty | Representative photo. (Image: Reuters)

The honesty of a 60-year-old rickshaw driver in Pune shone through the gloom of a virus outbreak, a crippling lockdown and financial despair all around as he returned a bag containing cash and jewellery totaling ₹ 7 lakh to its rightful owner.

On Wednesday, a couple had boarded the three-wheeler of Vitthal Mapare at Keshav Nagar area and alighted at Hadapsar bus-stand, leaving behind the bag, the police said.

"I moved ahead and went to BT Kawade road where I parked my vehicle to have tea. It is then that I noticed this bag lying on the back seat. I did not open it and took it to Ghorpadi chowky nearby and deposited it with sub-inspector Vijay Kadam there," said Mr Mapare narrating the chain of events.

Speaking to PTI, sub-inspector Kadam said, "On opening the bag as per procedure, we found gold ornaments weighing 11 tolas, ₹ 20000 cash, all totaling ₹ 7 lakh, and some clothes. We contacted Hadapsar police station as the couple had alighted there."

"Hadapsar police told us Mahboob and Shanaz Shaikh had already approached them with a missing bag complaint. The bag was handed over to them at Mundhwa police station and Mapare was felicitated by Deputy Commissioner of Police Suhas Bawche," Mr Kadam added.

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Mr Mapare, who has been a rickshaw driver for several years now, lives in a rented house and his son works in a private firm.

Mr Mapare said he was happy with the praise that he was getting over the past two days and considered it his biggest reward in life.