Passenger on AP Express allegedly drugged with food and robbed of over Rs 5.32 lakh

A passenger on the AP Express from Nagpur to Gwalior has allegedly been drugged with food and robbed. According to the allegation, a co-passenger seated beside him during the journey gave him food that had been laced with something, after which he lost consciousness and the accused fled with cash and a mobile phone. The loss, including the cash and the phone, is said to be more than Rs 5.32 lakh.

The victim has been identified as Pappu Jagram Rathore (51), a resident of Morena in Madhya Pradesh. He was travelling from Nagpur to Gwalior on train number 20805, the AP Express.

According to police, Rathore was carrying Rs 5.17 lakh in cash. After he boarded the train at Nagpur, a co-passenger aged about 65 allegedly struck up a conversation with him. The man had said he was going to Jhansi.

The elderly man is said to have offered Rathore some namkeen, an apple and a laddu. It is alleged that Rathore lost consciousness after eating them, giving the suspected robber his opportunity.

The accused allegedly took advantage of Rathore's unconscious state and fled with Rs 5 lakh kept in his bag, Rs 17,000 in his pocket and his mobile phone.

After regaining consciousness, Rathore approached the police in Gwalior and lodged a complaint. As the journey had begun in Nagpur, the complaint was transferred to the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Nagpur.

Nagpur GRP has registered a case against an unidentified accused and begun an investigation to trace the suspected robber. No arrest has been reported so far.

The incident has once again shown how vulnerable railway passengers are to criminals who allegedly target unsuspecting travellers with food and drink and other pretexts.