Sarjerao Gade, Photokina Chemicals Sr. Sales Executive performs good deed

18 March 2024: Sarjerao Vaman Gade, a 51-year-old working as Senior Sales Executive in Photokina Chemicals (P) Ltd. (PCPL) saw a bag on an empty seat while travelling in a BEST bus on his way to a client visit on February 14, 2024 in Mumbai. He saw that there was Rs.2,20,000 cash in the bag and out of good heartedness, immediately brought it to Byculla Police Station. Sarjerao handed over the bag to PSI Deshmukh, PSI Kupekar and Police Havaldar Bagul.

Then, with the rest of the staff they tried their best to trace the original owner, who turned out to be an old lady of 85 years age, a senior citizen named Philomina Rodriques. She was then called to Byculla Police Station and handed over the bag. The lady shared that in her young age, she was working in Italy taking care of nursery children. Now, she is retired and staying in Mumbai with no other family members to take care of her. She receives a regular pension from the Italian government to take care of her expenses.

Responding to his being described as a ‘Good Samaritan’ for not yielding to temptation despite the huge amount of over two lakh rupees that he had found in the bag, Sarjerao said, “It is all due to my upbringing, family teachings and our cultural values, which have always taught me to good deeds and help the people in need. I believe that one should always be humble and not try to take advantage of someone else’s mistake. Thinking about others is what being humanitarian is all about and it was my good fortune to get such an opportunity to help out a needy senior citizen.”