Gold, Grace and a Gold Chain: How Chennai Sweeper Padma’s Integrity Won Rajinikanth and a City Over

It was a moment Padma, a sanitation worker in Chennai, never imagined — a personal invitation to meet Superstar Rajinikanth. The actor took time to honour her with a gold chain, celebrating an act of honesty that has since captured the city’s heart and sparked conversations about integrity and everyday heroism.

Padma found a box containing gold jewellery worth nearly ₹45 lakh while on duty on the bustling streets of T Nagar. Instead of ignoring it or succumbing to temptation, she promptly alerted authorities and ensured the valuables were returned safely to their rightful owner. Her quiet integrity quickly became a powerful story of hope, resonating across Chennai and beyond.

Recognition poured in from all corners — from the Chief Minister to the city Police Commissioner, from industrialists to business owners. Yet the honour from Rajinikanth, known for celebrating real-life heroes, added a deeply emotional touch to Padma’s journey from anonymous street worker to citywide inspiration.

Honesty, it seems, runs in the family. Padma’s husband, an auto driver, had earlier returned ₹10,000 that a passenger accidentally left behind in his vehicle. Reflecting on the overwhelming attention, Padma said, “We should never aspire to have what doesn’t belong to us. We thought everything would end after returning the gold, but many people continue to honour us. It’s a new experience for our family, and we’re grateful to our company.”

Her employer, Urbaser Sumeet, expressed pride in its workforce, noting that employees have returned lost valuables worth nearly ₹1.5 crore over the past four years — from jewellery and mobile phones to important documents. CEO Mahmood Sait said the company emphasises values like integrity, discipline, and hard work in daily team briefings. “Stories like Padma’s remind us why we’re proud of what we do,” he said.

In a world often dominated by troubling headlines, Padma’s story stands out as a shining reminder that those who keep our streets clean often carry the cleanest hearts — proving that honesty can still sparkle brighter than gold.