How a Tamil Nadu software professional, who assisted Mani Ratnam in 'Ponniyin Selvan', found stolen phone in hours

In an intriguing turn of events, a tech-savvy individual from Tamil Nadu, Raj Bhagat, successfully retrieved his father's stolen phone within two hours, utilizing a combination of luck and technological prowess. Bhagat, a professional data mapper whose expertise was previously employed by filmmaker Mani Ratnam in the film 'Ponniyin Selvan,' showcased the power of location tracking in a compelling tale of quick thinking and smart use of available resources. The techie narrated the whole incident and how he retrieved the phone to Press Trust of India.

The incident unfolded when Bhagat's father lost his handbag, containing the phone, on the Nagercoil-Kacheguda express. Realizing the loss almost two hours later, Bhagat's family, who shared their locations with each other, immediately noticed the phone's movement along the railway track near Melapalayam in Tirunelveli.

Utilizing his mapping skills, Bhagat deduced that the thief had alighted at Tirunelveli junction and was heading back to Nagercoil on another train. To track the thief, Bhagat enlisted the help of a friend and a railway police officer, embarking on a mission to trace the thief.


Upon the arrival of the Kanyakumari express, the train on which the thief was supposedly returning, Bhagat faced challenges in the crowded environment and briefly lost sight of the perpetrator. However, he continued tracking the individual through map movements, concluding that the thief exited through the main gate and boarded a local bus connecting the railway station to Anna bus stand.

Using Google Maps, Bhagat accurately located the thief, confirming the bag he held was indeed his father's. With the assistance of people in the vicinity, they successfully cornered the culprit at Anna bus stand. Subsequent investigations at the police station revealed the man's identity as a repeat offender, and authorities recovered several stolen items, including a cell phone charger, Bluetooth earphones, lock and key, train chain, and Rs 1,000 in cash.