An RTI-based investigation by The Indian Express reveals that between January 2022 and May 2026, at least 1.27 crore bedroll items were stolen from Indian Railways trains, causing a loss of ₹104.51 crore to contractors.The theft rate increased by 56% from 2022 to 2025, with passengers being the main culprits.Around 8 lakh passengers travel in AC coaches nightly, and approximately one in 1,000 passengers steals at least one linen item.The most affected zones include Rajasthan, Bihar, and Delhi, with Bikaner and Ranchi reporting the highest thefts.While some divisions like Delhi saw a 79% reduction in thefts, others like Tiruchirappalli and Palakkad reported zero incidents.Contractors recover losses from coach attendants' salaries, but some have scrapped contracts due to financial strain.The Railways spokesperson stated that linen accountability lies with the deployed agencies, and costs are recovered from their bills.