Bengaluru woman seeks father's stolen Rado watch, sweater after Fortis hospital death
Synopsis
A Bengaluru woman's grief turned into a fight for justice after her father's ₹1.80 lakh Rado watch and sweater allegedly vanished at Fortis Hospital on the day he died. With CCTV footage reportedly unavailable and her initial complaint closed without action, the case raises uncomfortable questions about patient belongings and accountability in private hospitals.
Key Takeaways
Anita Ramaiah of Basaveshwaranagar, Bengaluru alleges her father's Rado watch worth ₹1.80 lakh and a sweater went missing at Fortis Hospital on 15 January .
Her father, social worker K.
Ramaiah , was declared dead approximately 30 minutes after arriving at the hospital following a sudden collapse.
The Govindarajanagar police registered an FIR under Section 303(2) of the BNS against unknown persons, reportedly after an initial delay.
Anita alleged her complaint was closed on 15 March without resolution, prompting her to approach hospital authorities directly.
Fortis Hospital reportedly informed the family that CCTV footage from the relevant time was unavailable.
Anita released a public video stating the watch matters not for its price but as a memory of her father .
A Bengaluru woman has alleged that a Rado wristwatch worth ₹1.80 lakh and a half-sleeve sweater belonging to her deceased father went missing from the premises of Fortis Hospital in the city, where he was brought for emergency treatment on 15 January. The Govindarajanagar police have registered an FIR against unknown persons and launched an investigation into the alleged theft.
What Happened
Anita Ramaiah, a resident of Basaveshwaranagar, filed a complaint stating that her father, K. Ramaiah, a social worker, collapsed suddenly on 15 January following severe health complications. At the time, he was wearing the Rado watch and the sweater. According to the complaint, a private hospital initially refused to administer first aid, after which the family transported Ramaiah by car to Fortis Hospital, with Anita supporting him in the backseat.
'After reaching the Fortis hospital, two assistants took my father out of the car and shifted him inside. Around 30 minutes later, doctors declared him dead,' Anita stated in her complaint. The family subsequently discovered that both the watch and the sweater were missing.
The Emotional Appeal
Anita released a video on Friday appealing for the return of the items, stressing that the watch carries far more than monetary value. '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 in the video statement.
She described the watch as one of the last tangible connections to her father, making the alleged theft particularly distressing for the grieving family.
Police Delays and Hospital Response
The family has alleged that despite approaching the police earlier, there was a significant delay in registering the FIR, which was formally filed only recently. According to Anita, on 15 March she received a message stating that her complaint had been closed without resolution.
She subsequently approached Fortis Hospital authorities seeking an internal inquiry and access to CCTV footage. 'After two days, the Fortis hospital sent a condolence message saying the missing items were not found,' she said. When she again approached the Govindarajanagar police station, the inspector directed staff to issue a notice to the hospital. Two weeks later, Fortis Hospital reportedly informed her that the CCTV footage related to the incident was unavailable.
FIR and Legal Action
The Govindarajanagar police have booked unknown persons under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigators are currently questioning hospital authorities regarding the allegations. The unavailability of CCTV footage has complicated efforts to identify those responsible.
What Comes Next
The police investigation is ongoing, with hospital staff being questioned. The case has drawn attention to accountability gaps in private hospital settings during medical emergencies, particularly regarding the safeguarding of patients' personal belongings. How Fortis Hospital responds to the police inquiry is expected to be a key development in the coming days.
Point of View
Secure, or return patients' personal belongings during emergencies. The reported closure of the initial complaint without investigation, followed by the convenient unavailability of CCTV footage, raises questions that go beyond one family's grief. If private hospitals cannot account for a patient's valuables in the hour of death, the regulatory silence around that gap is itself a story.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What items were allegedly stolen from Fortis Hospital in Bengaluru?
A Rado wristwatch valued at ₹1.80 lakh and a half-sleeve sweater belonging to the late K. Ramaiah, a social worker, allegedly went missing at Fortis Hospital in Bengaluru on 15 January. His daughter Anita Ramaiah filed a police complaint alleging theft of the items from the hospital premises.
Who filed the complaint and what action has the police taken?
Anita Ramaiah, a resident of Basaveshwaranagar, Bengaluru, filed the complaint at the Govindarajanagar police station. The police have registered an FIR under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against unknown persons and are currently questioning hospital authorities.
Why is the watch so significant to Anita Ramaiah?
Anita has stated that the watch is not about its monetary value but is one of the last tangible memories she has of her father, who died on 15 January. In a public video, she said she is 'still unable to come out of the shock' of his death and simply wants the watch returned.
What happened to the CCTV footage from Fortis Hospital?
According to Anita, Fortis Hospital informed her approximately two weeks after she sought an internal inquiry that the CCTV footage related to the incident was unavailable. The absence of footage has complicated the police investigation into the alleged theft.
Was there a delay in registering the FIR?
Yes, the family has alleged that despite approaching the police earlier, there was a significant delay in formally registering the FIR. Anita stated that on 15 March she received a message indicating her complaint had been closed, prompting her to escalate the matter before the FIR was eventually registered.
