V.K. Jain, Presiding Member—The complainant/respondent hired a locker from the petitioner bank and according to him, he had been keeping jewellery belonging to him and his family members in the aforesaid locker. On 23.03.2013, the valuables kept in a few lockers including the locker of the complainant/respondent were stolen. The complainant lodged a report with the police and during the investigation, his statement was also recorded in which he gave details of the stolen articles of jewellery which according to him weighed 598.425 gms. However, the bank did not reimburse the complainant for the loss sustained by him. Being aggrieved, the complainant approached the concerned District Forum by way of a complaint seeking compensation to the extent of Rs. 18 lacs being the current value of the jewellery alongwith interest and damage amounting to Rs. 50,000/-.

2. The complaint was resisted on several grounds. It was however, not disputed that the complainant had hired Godrej locker no. 13 with the Loni Deokar Branch of the bank and he was using the said locker. It was also not disputed that on 23.03.2013, a theft occurred involving several lockers including the locker of the