The victim, identified as Varsha Soni, an attendant posted in the gynaecology department, was alone in a lift located behind the blood bank when the incident took place. According to the complaint, a young man wearing a mask and cap entered the elevator shortly after her and initiated a brief conversation, asking which floor housed the ophthalmology department.
As the lift reached the third floor, the man stepped out momentarily before suddenly turning back and grabbing the woman by the neck. He attempted to snatch her mangalsutra and a pearl necklace. Soni resisted, but the accused pushed her aside and fled through the stairway. While the pearl necklace broke and fell inside the lift, the attacker managed to escape with the mangalsutra.
The incident reportedly occurred during duty hours on a day when the hospital campus had relatively low footfall due to a Sunday and the January 26 holiday. Preliminary findings suggest that security deployment was reduced across several blocks during this period. Notably, no security guard was present near the lift at the time of the incident.
After the snatching, the victim remained seated near the lift area, crying for nearly ten minutes before a security guard on routine rounds noticed her and informed senior officials. Soni later submitted a written complaint at Bagsewania police station. However, as of Monday evening, an FIR had not been formally registered, sources said.
CCTV footage indicates that the accused escaped through the IPD gate. Security officials stated that identification has been challenging as the suspect deliberately concealed his face with a mask and cap. Police teams are currently scanning footage from multiple cameras within and around the hospital campus to trace his movement.
While cases of theft have been reported earlier within the AIIMS Bhopal premises, this is the first known incident of chain snatching targeting a woman inside a lift. The episode has sparked criticism of the hospital administration, with staff members and visitors questioning the adequacy of surveillance and on-ground security, particularly in sensitive zones such as elevators.
Authorities have assured a review of security protocols and increased deployment of guards, while police say further action will follow once procedural formalities are completed.
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