New Delhi: For 59-year-old auto driver Sanver Khan, honesty is not an occasional act but a way of life. A father of four, he has been driving his rented auto in Delhi-NCR for over 25 years. Last August, his integrity came into focus when he returned a bag containing around Rs 1 lakh in cash that a passenger had accidentally left behind.
Khan was driving near Barakhamba Road on a cloudy afternoon when a man got into his auto after leaving a government vehicle stuck in traffic. The passenger asked to be dropped near Punjab Bhawan and suggested a shortcut. Khan obliged and dropped him at the destination. Soon after, he noticed a bag left behind on the seat.
Inside, he found papers, a phone number, and two bundles of notes. Unsure of what to do, Khan called Balwant Singh Bhullar, who runs the Highway Hero Trust, an organisation for the welfare and safety of drivers. On Bhullar’s advice, he dialed the number written on the paper. The call connected him to the passenger, who turned out to be an IPS officer.
The next day, Khan returned the bag at Punjab Bhawan. The officer expressed surprise at the speed with which Khan traced him. For Khan, it was a proud moment. “He told me he did not expect me to find him so soon. Returning the bag gave me happiness that money cannot give,” Khan recalled.
On Wednesday, Khan was among 20 drivers honoured by the Delhi Traffic Police and the Highway Hero Trust for their contributions to passenger safety and trust. Special CP (Traffic) Ajay Chaudhary praised the awardees for shaping the first impression of Delhi for visitors.
Another awardee was Sunita, a chauffeur who once helped nab a suspected carjacker while working late-night shifts.
