Fortis Hospital Bengaluru refutes missing Rado watch allegations after patient's death
Synopsis
A Bengaluru family's grief over a deceased social worker has taken a legal turn — his daughter says a ₹1.80 lakh Rado watch vanished at Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi. The hospital says the complaint came two months too late for CCTV to help. Police have filed an FIR, and the investigation is live.
Key Takeaways
Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi in Bengaluru issued a clarification on 22 May 2025 denying allegations of theft of patient valuables.
Deceased social worker K.
Ramaiah was admitted and declared dead on 15 January 2026 ; his family alleges a Rado watch worth ₹1.80 lakh and a sweater went missing.
The hospital says the family raised the concern only on 24 April 2026 , over two months later, by which time CCTV footage had been deleted under a 30-day retention policy .
Govindarajanagar police have registered an FIR under Section 303(2) of the BNS against unknown persons.
Daughter Anita Ramaiah said the watch holds emotional value: 'It is not about the cost, it is about the memories.'
Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi, in Bengaluru on 22 May 2025 issued a formal clarification denying allegations that a Rado wristwatch worth ₹1.80 lakh and a half-sleeve sweater belonging to deceased social worker K. Ramaiah went missing during his treatment at the facility. The hospital's statement came in response to a video appeal by Ramaiah's daughter, Anita Ramaiah, and an ongoing police investigation into the alleged theft.
What the Family Alleged
According to Anita Ramaiah, her father K. Ramaiah collapsed suddenly on 15 January 2026 due to severe health complications. He was shifted to Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi after another private hospital allegedly refused to administer first aid. Ramaiah was wearing the Rado wristwatch and a half-sleeve sweater at the time of admission. After doctors declared him dead, the family reportedly discovered both items were missing.
In a video released on Friday, Anita said she had approached the hospital and police multiple times seeking an inquiry and access to CCTV footage. 'I am just hoping that I get back my dad's wristwatch. It is not about the cost, it is about the memories. I am still unable to come out of the shock of my father's death,' she said.
What the Hospital Said
In its clarification, Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi expressed condolences to the Ramaiah family and stated it had reviewed the matter internally, sharing all available information with both the family and police. The hospital noted that no concern regarding missing valuables was raised by the family at the time the body was handed over on 15 January 2026.
According to the hospital's statement, formal communication about the alleged missing items was received only on 24 April 2026 — more than two months after the death — by which time CCTV footage was no longer available, in line with the hospital's standard 30-day data retention policy. The hospital added that it had nonetheless conducted internal checks and shared relevant details with investigators.
The hospital also noted that Ramaiah had reportedly visited another healthcare facility before being brought to Fortis. It cautioned against 'speculative or unverified allegations', warning that such claims could be defamatory in nature.
Police Action and Investigation
The Govindarajanagar police have registered an FIR under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against unknown persons in connection with the alleged theft. Police confirmed that further investigation into the allegations is currently underway. The hospital stated it continues to extend full cooperation to the investigating authorities.
What Happens Next
With CCTV footage unavailable due to the retention policy, investigators will likely rely on staff testimonies, entry-exit records, and any evidence from the earlier facility Ramaiah visited. This case highlights a broader concern around the safekeeping of patient valuables in hospitals — a matter that lacks uniform regulatory oversight across Indian states. The outcome of the police probe is expected to determine whether charges are framed against any identified individual.
Point of View
Standard as it may be, raises a harder question: why are hospitals not required to flag and preserve footage whenever a patient death occurs? The absence of a mandatory valuables-inventory protocol at discharge — dead or alive — is the real gap here. This case is unlikely to be isolated; it is simply the one that got a video appeal and an FIR.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What items allegedly went missing at Fortis Hospital Bengaluru?
A Rado wristwatch valued at ₹1.80 lakh and a half-sleeve sweater belonging to deceased social worker K. Ramaiah allegedly went missing while he was a patient at Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru. The family discovered the items were missing after doctors declared him dead on 15 January 2026.
What has Fortis Hospital said in its clarification?
Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi stated that no concern about missing valuables was raised when the body was handed over on 15 January 2026, and that the formal complaint arrived on 24 April 2026 — over two months later — by which time CCTV footage had been deleted under the hospital's 30-day data retention policy. The hospital said it has cooperated fully with the police investigation.
Has a police case been filed in the Fortis Bengaluru missing watch matter?
Yes. The Govindarajanagar police have registered an FIR under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against unknown persons. Police confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
Why does the family say the watch matters beyond its monetary value?
Anita Ramaiah, daughter of the deceased, said the watch is among the last tangible memories she has of her father. In her video appeal she stated: 'It is not about the cost, it is about the memories. I am still unable to come out of the shock of my father's death.'
What happens now that CCTV footage is unavailable?
With the CCTV footage deleted under the hospital's retention policy, investigators are expected to rely on staff testimonies, admission and discharge records, and any evidence from the earlier facility Ramaiah visited before being brought to Fortis. The police probe is ongoing and no arrests have been reported yet.
