Mumbai: Thief returns stolen valuables from renowned Marathi writer's home

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A burglar was filled with regret after discovering that the residence he stole goods from belonged to a well-known Marathi writer and returned the stuff, police said on Tuesday. The home, located in Neral, Raigad district, belonged to Narayan Surve, a prominent Marathi poet and social activist who died on August 16, 2010, at the age of 84. Surve's poems portrayed the challenges of the urban working class, reported PTI.

According to the report, Surve's daughter, Sujata, and her husband, Ganesh Ghare, now reside in the home of the renowned Marathi writer. They had gone to Virar to see their son and left the house closed for ten days.

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During their absence, a robber broke in and stole many items, including an LED television. When he came the next day to steal more, he discovered Surve's photo and mementoes. When the well-read burglar realised who owned the house, he felt sorry and returned all of the stolen valuables. He posted a letter on the wall, apologising for stealing from such a renowned literary figure's home, the PTI report stated.

According to the report, Sujata and her husband found the note after they returned from Virar on Sunday, according to Neral police inspector Shivaji Dhavle.

The authorities are doing additional investigations using fingerprints found on the TV and other things, the official told PTI.

According to the report, Surve grew up as an orphan on Mumbai's streets, surviving by working as a domestic help, dishwasher, babysitter, pet-dog carer, milk delivery boy, porter, and mill worker. His poetry honoured effort and defied Marathi literary conventions.

In another unrelated news, the Mumbai civic body filed a case with police against an unidentified person who charged women a fee to fill their applications for the recently launched 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' scheme of the Maharashtra government.

The M East ward officer was informed that a person was collecting Rs 100 per application from ladies eager to enlist in the scheme, however, there is no cost for submitting forms.

According to a notification from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic administration filed a case at the Deonar police station on Monday after the accused told a person in M East that they needed to pay a fee to apply for the scheme.

With PTI inputs