Model-actress Sheetal Menon was in for a rude shock when she opened her bags after landing in Kochi from an Air India Express flight on August 8.
Her jewellery worth Rs 1.5 lakh from her baggage was missing, but the imitation jewellery was left untouched.
Moreover, her baggage was sealed when she collected it at the Kochi airport.
“It appeared that someone carefully removed the jewellery because the artificial stuff was untouched,” said Menon, who had debuted in Bhram.
She alleged that the police station close to the Kochi airport did not register her complaint.
“They claimed that act happened in Mumbai so the complaint should be registered here,” Menon said.
On Monday, Menon returned to Mumbai and filed a complaint at the Sahar police station after meeting Additional Commissioner of Police Amitabh Gupta.
Senior Inspector, Dilip Patil, of the Sahar police station, said: “We are taking cognisance of the case.”
Though there are closed-circuit television cameras installed in Mumbai airport, nobody monitors the baggage as it moves through the conveyor belt to the aircraft belly.
In February, the Crime Branch busted a baggage theft racket at the city airport and arrested four loaders working with ground handling agency Cambatta Aviation for stealing jewellery, branded wristwatches and other expensive items from the baggage.
{{/usCountry}}In February, the Crime Branch busted a baggage theft racket at the city airport and arrested four loaders working with ground handling agency Cambatta Aviation for stealing jewellery, branded wristwatches and other expensive items from the baggage.
{{/usCountry}}Investigations revealed that the group were involved in thefts worth Rs 11 lakh in 60 cases since 2006.
Last year, Mumbai stood second in the number of airport thefts reported by the civil aviation ministry — 37 cases of theft. Delhi airport topped the list with 78 cases of theft.