Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Where unclaimed cash and valuables end up

Special Correspondent 

 
Chennai, June 13, 2018 00:00 IST

Rules mandate they can be disposed of after 6 months

It is the duty of a police officer to take temporary charge of all unclaimed property found by or made over to him, as well as all property found lying on a public street. After taking charge of such property, he should furnish an inventory to the Commissioner of Police.

As and when a person brings in valuables found lying on public roads or other places to the police, the officer concerned needs to make a noting in the general diary of the station and issue a receipt to the person.

A senior police officer said that in normal course they then check whether a complaint was lodged in any police station about the missing valuables.

They then call the complainant and hand over the article to him. In case of valuables lying in the police station, the officer in charge will proceed as per the provisions of Section 102(3) of Criminal Procedure Code and report it to the magistrate having jurisdiction.

The cash or other valubles may either be retained by the police or sent to the treasury for safe custody.

Claimants can get back valaubles after filing relevant documents either with the court or police. In most cases, unaccounted cash is handed over to the treasury by police after waiting for some time. The same is the case with seizures of gold and other valuables.

A. Sirajudeen, a senior advocate in the Supreme Court, said, “As per procedure contemplated by Section 458, where no claimant appears within six months, the magistrate may direct that such property at the disposal of the state government may be sold by the government and proceeds of such sale shall be dealt with in such manner as may be prescribed. Article 296 of the Constitution also allows such disposal.”

Advocate V. Suresh said, “In vehicle theft cases, police normally issues non-traceble certificate within 45 days and the insurer gets compensation.

If the vehicle is traced, it may not be in good condition. Then both the vehicle owner and insurance company don’t want the vehicle. Many such vehicles are abandoned.”

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