A lump sum amount of 40,000 lying precariously at a bus stop did not tempt a 54-year-old, Dhanaji Jagdale from Satara, Maharashtra as he returned the money to its rightful owner.

Jagdale, who is also a casual labourer, garnered the appreciation of all sorts after submitting the money at the Police Station. The man who forgot his money was grateful for the kind gesture and offered Rs 1000 as a token of thanks. But Jagdale refused the amount and only took Rs 7 for bus fare as he fell short of it and only had Rs 3 in his pocket to make it to his native village Pingali in Satara’s Maan Taluka.

“I had gone to Dahiwadi for Diwali for some work and returned to the bus stop. I found a bundle of notes nearby. I asked people around and finally found a man distressed and looking for something. I soon found out the cash bundle belonged to him,” Jagdale said.

Jagdale further added, “He told me the bundle contained Rs 40,000. He had collected it for his wife’s surgery. He wanted to give me Rs 1,000 but I took only Rs 7 as the bus fare to my village is Rs 10, and I only had Rs 3 in my pocket,” News18 reported.

After displaying such honesty, Jagdale was offered reward from different ministers and bureaucrats to which he humbly declined.

Jagdale has so far been felicitated by Satara BJP MLA Shivendraraje Bhosale, former MP Udayanraje Bhosale and several other organisations, though he refused to accept any cash award.

Rahul Barge, hailing from Koregaon tehsil in the district and currently living in America, made an offer of Rs 5 lakh, which too was refused by Jagdale.

“I think by taking someone’s money, one would not get satisfaction. The only message I want to spread is that people should live honestly,” he said.

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