The Theft of Three Hundred Thousand Rupees

The Theft of Three Hundred Thousand Rupees

(Article No. 1427)

Bano and Shehla, the sisters of Mansoor and Munir Shami, studied at Tower House Grammar School, a private institution run by Begum Nayab, who was both its owner and principal. She was known as a kind, intelligent, and principled woman. Her school, which offered education from playground to matriculation, had an excellent reputation. Parents from far-off areas sent their children there because of its strong discipline and high academic standards.

Begum Nayab believed that a satisfied staff performed better. Therefore, she paid her teachers and employees generous salaries. As a result, the staff worked with dedication, and the students grew into responsible and capable individuals.

One afternoon, Bano returned home looking frightened and disturbed. Mansoor noticed her silence and assumed she had performed poorly in a test. However, Bano revealed that a theft had occurred at her school. Three hundred thousand rupees had been stolen from the principal’s office safe. She was scared, imagining armed robbers. Mansoor calmly reassured her, explaining that criminals grow bold only when people fear them, and promised that they would help uncover the truth.

Later that evening, Munir Shami arrived with more details. He clarified that it was not a robbery but a silent theft. The money had been removed without force. Begum Nayab’s son Yasir, Munir’s friend, had asked them to look into the matter. They decided to visit the school.

At the school, Begum Nayab welcomed them warmly. She explained that the stolen money had been withdrawn from the bank to pay staff salaries. Due to a delay, the staff had been sent home, and the cash was placed in the safe overnight. The next morning, the safe was empty. She also informed them that the office and safe keys were kept with her car keys, which were sometimes used by her driver.

Mansoor and Munir examined the keys closely and noticed a greasy texture and the scent of soap. They realized that impressions of the keys had been taken using soap to make duplicate keys. In the office, they confirmed that the safe had been opened without force. Using fingerprint powder, they lifted fingerprints from the safe handle.

The police had detained the driver for questioning, suspecting him due to his access to the car keys. When the boys spoke to him, he explained that the cashier, Izhar-ud-Din, had delayed their return from the bank unnecessarily. He had stopped at several places, bought food, and finally paid the driver to claim there was a delay at the bank.

Suspecting the cashier, Mansoor tested his theory by pressing the key into a bar of soap, easily creating an impression. They then visited Trunk Bazaar, a market where metal boxes and keys were made. One locksmith refused to help, but another revealed that a man had recently ordered duplicate keys using soap impressions and had even forgotten his spectacles at the shop.

The boys returned home, confident they had identified the culprit. That night, they informed Inspector Rashid, who agreed to help. The next day, the inspector arrived at the school with police officers. Munir asked that the cashier be called into the office.

When confronted, Izhar-ud-Din denied everything. Mansoor produced the soap impression. At the same moment, police brought in the locksmith, who identified Izhar-ud-Din as the man who had ordered the duplicate keys. Fingerprint analysis also confirmed that only the cashier’s prints were on the safe handle, since Begum Nayab always wore gloves due to allergies.

Overwhelmed by evidence, Izhar-ud-Din collapsed and confessed. He revealed where he had hidden the stolen money. Inspector Rashid praised Mansoor and Munir for their intelligence and asked how they solved the case so quickly. Mansoor explained the entire plan, from the deliberate delay at the bank to making duplicate keys and stealing the money at night.

The news spread throughout the school. Teachers, students, and parents admired the boys’ courage and intelligence. Bano and Shehla stood beside their brothers with pride. The next day, newspapers praised Mansoor and Munir once again for their exceptional detective skills.

This story teaches that intelligence, observation, and courage can expose even the most carefully planned crimes. True heroes are those who use their minds for justice and the good of society.