Women Return 24 Stolen Saris Via Courier After CCTV Goes Viral
Police officials in Angul made it clear that returning stolen goods does not cancel the offence itself
Hyderabad: A sari theft at the Boyanika showroom in Angul, Odisha, took an unexpected twist after the accused women allegedly tried to reverse the damage once CCTV footage of the incident exploded across social media.
The incident dates back to April 11, when a group of women entered the government-run textile outlet posing as regular shoppers. To avoid suspicion, they purchased a kurta worth ₹1,400 before allegedly slipping away with 25 expensive saris hidden under their clothes. The stolen collection was estimated to be worth nearly ₹7.18 lakh.
Store staff discovered the theft later that evening and filed a police complaint. Soon after, CCTV visuals from the showroom surfaced online and quickly went viral, triggering widespread public attention and local embarrassment for those allegedly involved.
As the footage spread, one of the women reportedly contacted showroom staff, requesting that the complaint be withdrawn and citing the humiliation caused in their locality. Days later, the showroom received a courier package containing 24 of the 25 stolen saris.
But the attempted return has not stopped the legal process.
Police officials in Angul made it clear that returning stolen goods does not cancel the offence itself. According to investigators, the case remains active, legal action will continue, and efforts are underway to identify everyone involved in the theft. Authorities also noted that one sari is still missing, while criminal liability for the original act remains unchanged.
