Pune: A heart-wrenching appeal by a Pune man has captured attention after he took to the streets with placards, pleading with the thieves who stole his scooter to return it. Abhay Chaugule, a resident of the city, stood on JM Road, holding signs that conveyed a deeply personal request to the culprits.

The scooter, a black Activa, was stolen from near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Kothrud on Dussehra night, and according to Abhay, it holds immense sentimental value as it was his late mother's last gift to him.

Abhay's emotional placard, written in Marathi, read: "Humble request to the thief who stole my Activa. My mother bought this after a lot of hard work. It's her last memory. Please return it. I will buy you a new vehicle, but please give back my mother's scooter."

His mother had passed away three months ago after a battle with cancer, and the scooter was one of her last gifts to him. Abhay's father had also passed away two years earlier due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

After realizing that his scooter had been stolen, Abhay searched the nearby areas but to no avail. He eventually filed a police complaint regarding the theft. He also turned to social media for help, sharing a post on Instagram that read: "Please help me find my BLACK ACTIVA MH14BZ6036. It was stolen from Kothrud on Dussehra Night. Please contact me on 9766617464 or DM me on this ID @abhayanjuu."

Abhay's emotional plea has resonated with many on social media, with users sharing his post and offering support. The police investigation is underway, and locals are keeping an eye out for the stolen vehicle.