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Diamond polisher Rajesh Rathod (in white shirt) handing over the packet of diamonds to rightful owner broker Hitesh Viradiya SURAT: On finding a packet full of diamonds worth Rs 9 lakh lying

on the roadside, artisan Rajesh Rathod’s thought his financial woes caused by the prolonged recession and lockdown were over. Rathod’s wages were slashed by nearly Rs 6,000 and presently he

earns around Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000 a month in a Katargam diamond unit. But conscience got better of his momentary temptation and Rathod ultimately returned the packet to the rightful owner

within four days, proving that ‘mutual trust’ has always been the cornerstone of Surat’s globally acclaimed cutting and polishing industry. On September 25, Rathod spotted the packet near

Sumul Dairy bridge while walking down to Mini Bazaar diamond market in Varachha from his house.Rathod was initially thought of making a killing by selling the 30 carats of sparkling gems as

slashed wages were making it difficult for him to run the family of four including two children. “I could only see the weight and number of diamond pieces written on the packet. I

immediately contacted my colleague who told me to keep it safely. On the first day, I decided to keep it. But I spent a sleepless night out of guilt and the next day I decided to return it

to the rightful owner,” Rathod told TOI. On September 28, Rathod got a call from a person who introduced himself as the owner of the packet. After thorough scrutiny, he met the owner Haresh

Viradiya, a broker and handed over the parcel to him. Viradiya, who had lost the parcel while taking out his handkerchief, had circulated about the packet on social media and pasted notices

at the complexes housing diamond offices in Mini Bazaar. “I am extremely humbled by Rathod’s honesty. The diamonds were owned by someone else. and I would have earned 1.5 % commission after

selling the packet. Had Rathod not returned the packet, I would have had to shell out Rs nine lakh to the owner,” Viradiya said. He said Rathod even refused to accept felicitation and cash

as gift from him.