Hyderabad: The West Zone police of the city arrested a driver named Erigadindla Srinivasulu aged, 31, of Skycabs for stealing a diamond necklace and other valuables worth Rs 20.2 lakh.

On Thursday night, a passenger, Ms Suman Devi Sethi, booked his taxi to drop her at her residence at Bhanu Deluxe Tower, on Shyam Karam Road, in Ameerpet.

“When she was getting down, she forgot her purse which contained the diamond necklace worth Rs 20 lakh, cell phone and cash of Rs 10,000. After some time when she realized that she had left her purse behind, she contacted the driver. He denied he saw the purse in the taxi,” said V. Satyanarayana, DCP West Zone.

Though, the police questioned him and he confessed that he had concealed the valuables beneath some rocks leading near Tarnaka area towards Uppal. The stolen material was recovered intact, said the DCP.

A theft case has been registered against him and for now he has been kept in remand. The accused is a resident of Mallapur, and also a  native of Mahbubnagar district.

Police then asked the passengers to be cautious enough and check their belongings before leaving cabs, taxis or auto rickshaws. They also requested that number of the vehicle should also be taken down immediately.