Shashi Tharoor’s ‘British Museum’ dig after Indian traveller’s bike gets stolen in UK

They’re learning from the British Museum! https://t.co/6uAIFgww4r

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 4, 2025

The remark revived memories of Tharoor’s celebrated 2015 Oxford Union speech on colonial loot, where he said: “No wonder the sun never set on the British Empire, because even God couldn’t trust the English in the dark.”

The theft

The victim, 33-year-old Yogesh Alekari, was on a solo world tour covering 24,000 km across 17 countries when the theft occurred on August 28. His bike, passport, money and documents were stolen while parked at Nottingham’s Wollaton Park.

“I locked the bike and thought it was a safe place with families around. But when I returned after breakfast, everything was gone,” he told the BBC. Video footage later showed the motorcycle being ridden away, flanked by two mopeds.

The theft has left the Mumbai-based biker devastated. “They stole my motorcycle, but this wasn’t only a motorbike – it was my home, my dream, my everything as a traveller,” he said. The influencer, who has more than 180,000 Instagram followers, broke down in tears after realising his loss.

@ShashiTharoor sir, two words for this incident? 😂 https://t.co/m7LIfvfTtp

— Digitech (@digitech777) September 4, 2025

Local police confirmed they are conducting inquiries but have so far not traced the bike. A Sergeant from Nottinghamshire Police said officers were “taking the case seriously” and urged anyone with information to come forward.

Alekari had hoped to continue his journey through Africa before returning to India. “People warned me about unsafe countries, but I never faced anything like this. I felt safe everywhere else – until the UK,” he said.

The biker is now appealing to his followers for help to recover his motorcycle and documents so he can resume his dream trip.