- By Chetna Shree
- Tue, 27 Jan 2026 01:52 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Madhya Pradesh: In a shocking incident, a masked man allegedly snatched a mangalsutra from a female staff member inside a lift at AIIMS Bhopal, raising serious concerns over safety at the city’s premier healthcare institution. The incident, captured on CCTV, occurred on Sunday and only came to light on Monday.
How Did The Incident Unfolded Inside Lift At AIIMS Bhopal?
According to a Jagran.com report, the incident took place on Sunday evening inside a lift located behind the blood bank. The victim, Varsha Soni, an attendant in the Department of Gynaecology, was alone in the lift when the man entered. The man had covered his face with a surgical mask.
After entering the lift, the accused initiated a brief conversation, casually asking about the location of the Ophthalmology department. As the lift opened on the third floor, the man stepped out but immediately lunged back at her. He reportedly attempted to snatch both her mangalsutra and a pearl necklace, but managed only to flee with the mangalsutra. The man managed to escape without being intercepted by any security guard.
The female staff member, left traumatised by the incident, sat crying near the lift for nearly ten minutes, Jagran.com report added.
Although no formal complaint was lodged, local police took cognisance of the matter after CCTV footage of the robbery went viral. An investigation is underway to identify and arrest the accused.
“A suspect has not yet been identified. CCTV footage from inside the AIIMS campus and nearby areas suggests that the accused did not arrive on his own vehicle but escaped by taking a lift on a two-wheeler after committing the crime. We are hopeful of identifying and apprehending him soon,” The New Indian Express quoted a senior Bhopal police officer as saying.