Munish Sood
Mandi
A simple mistake turned into a nightmare for a small parlour-running family in Mandi, whose four decades of honest reputation were shaken when they were wrongly suspected in a missing purse case involving jewellery worth nearly ₹12 lakh.
The incident, which unfolded over three traumatic days, has raised serious questions about social prejudice, the power of influence, and the cost of suspicion on ordinary families.
The Incident
The episode began on last Friday when two women arrived at a beauty parlour in Mandi. While one woman went inside for a service, the other waited outside and later left for a nearby bank.
After returning about 15–20 minutes later, the woman claimed that her small purse — allegedly containing jewellery worth around ₹12 lakh — was missing. She stated that she had removed her keys from her larger bag inside the parlour and believed the purse had been left behind or fallen there.
A search was conducted inside the parlour, but when the purse could not be found, suspicion immediately turned towards the parlour owners.
Police Search and Growing Pressure
The matter was reported to the police, following which teams arrived and conducted a search of the parlour, the family’s residence .The operation continued late into the night, reportedly until 2 a.m.
Nothing was recovered.
Despite the absence of evidence, the family remained under suspicion. It is learnt that the woman belonged to an influential family from Shimla, leading to pressure for swift and decisive action.
Meanwhile, unverified reports began circulating on social media platforms, with several pages identifying themselves as journalists publishing speculative stories. The family’s business name was widely circulated, resulting in public scrutiny and reputational damage.
Three Days of Mental Trauma
The family was repeatedly called to the police station over the next two days. Statements were recorded late into the night, while their business suffered and their social standing came under strain.
Neighbours began whispering. Customers stopped visiting. The family, which depends entirely on the parlour for survival, found itself fighting not just a police inquiry but also public judgment.
For a family that has lived and worked in Mandi for over 40 years, the experience was nothing short of psychological trauma.
Truth Emerges on Monday
On Monday morning, a breakthrough finally came when another woman walked into the bank and handed over a purse to the manager. She stated that she had found the bag lying inside the ATM booth on Friday.
As the bank remained closed on Saturday and Sunday, she said she waited and returned it on Monday.
The purse was confirmed to be the same one that had gone missing. The jewellery was found intact.
Apology, But No Closure
Following the recovery, the woman who had reported the loss apologised to the parlour family. The woman who returned the purse was praised for her honesty.
However, for the family, the damage had already been done.
Three days of public suspicion, police searches, late-night questioning and social media trial had left a deep scar. Though cleared of wrongdoing, their dignity and reputation had suffered a blow that may take years to heal.
Questions Raised
The incident has raised several serious concerns:
• Should an innocent family be subjected to raids and social humiliation on the basis of suspicion alone?
• Why was the purse not handed over to the police immediately if it was found in a public place?
• Who is accountable for the reputational damage caused by premature public allegations?
A Reminder for Society
This case stands as a reminder of how quickly a simple oversight can spiral into a public trial for ordinary families with no influence or power.
For the parlour owners of Mandi, the purse was found — but the three days of humiliation remain.
And some losses cannot be recovered.
