The rumour about the salt shortage in Maharashtrasaw 50 gunny bags of the condiment, worth Rs 15,000, disappear from outside the godown of a wholesale trader recently.

On Saturday morning, Dilip Gada, who lives in Ambarnath, was woken up by a frantic call from an employee, who told him that the gunny bags that are usually kept outside the godown were missing. Sources said, “Gada was shocked because in his 25 years in the business, he had never heard of anyone stealing salt. His wor­kers and he, then searched everywhere at the godown in Sindhi Galli to no avail.”