Man With Placard Requests Thief, ‘Will Buy You New, Please Return My Mother’s Last Memory’

Losing something of great value is always hard, but when that item carries deep sentimental meaning, the pain is even greater. This is the case for Abhay Chaugule, a resident of Pune, whose scooter was stolen on Dussehra near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Kothrud. For Abhay, the scooter was much more than just a vehicle—it was a cherished memory of his late mother. Desperate to recover this last connection to her, Abhay turned to social media, hoping that a heartfelt plea might help him retrieve the scooter.

The scooter, a black Activa, was purchased by Abhay’s mother before she passed away from cancer. His father had also succumbed to COVID-19 two years earlier, leaving the scooter as a powerful reminder of his parents. Despite an extensive search of the surrounding areas, Abhay had no luck and eventually lodged a police report. Refusing to give up, he took to the streets with a placard displaying the scooter’s registration number and an emotional message, urging anyone who had seen it to help him find it.

One side of the placard read, “My black Activa MH14B6036 was stolen on Dussehra. It’s my mother’s last memory. Please help me find it,” and the other carried a surprising offer: “Humble request to the thief who stole my Activa. My mother bought this after a lot of hard work. It’s her last memory. Please return it. I will buy you a new vehicle, but please give back my mother’s scooter.”

Abhay’s heartfelt plea soon went viral, with people across social media sharing his story in hopes of helping him recover the stolen Activa. In his posts, Abhay shared his contact information, hoping someone would come forward with information. In a particularly moving Instagram post, under the handle @abhayanjuu, Abhay recently shared a video where he reflects on celebrating his mother’s birthday for the first time without her.

As his appeal continues to gain traction online, Abhay holds onto hope that someone will help reunite him with his mother’s last memory.

Also Read: S Jaishankar Goes For Morning Walk With Team India Pakistan