Surat: He stole more than just cash — he stole a moment of mischief and shared it with the world. A 22-year-old servant, recently fired for theft, turned to Instagram to flaunt his latest prize: his 70-year-old employer’s licensed revolver, complete with ammunition, set to a Bhojpuri tune. What was meant as a cheeky reel quickly escalated into a full-blown police investigation, prompting the city’s Althan police to take action.According to a complaint filed at Althan police station, Manu Mangukiya, a diamond businessman and builder living in Celestial Dreams society, had employed Praveen Kumar on Oct 17 as a temporary replacement for his regular servant Mahesh, who was on leave. After working for a couple of months, Kumar was caught stealing Rs 8,000 from the house on Dec 20 and was dismissed on Dec 22.Mangukiya, who had purchased a Smith & Wesson revolver in 2011 for Rs 50,000 along with 16 rounds, discovered the gun missing from his cupboard after Kumar’s dismissal. On checking with another servant, Vimal Babu alias Rama, he was told the revolver was last seen on Dec 15. Suspecting Kumar, Mangukiya scrolled through Instagram and found a reel showing his revolver and ammunition.Mangukiya approached the police, who found that Kumar, a native of Bhagalpur, Bihar, had fled to West Bengal with the firearm. Authorities may also investigate Mangukiya’s handling of the revolver and whether the servant’s details were properly submitted to the police according to regulations.
