GONE FROM VAULT
CBI: Inquiry under way in ‘missing’ TN gold case
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: 13.12.2020
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday said an internal inquiry is being conducted into the matter of 100kg of gold in its custody in Chennai going missing.
“It is clarified that CBI in case number RC-24/2012 had searched the building of Surana Corporation limited, NSC Bose Road, Chennai, and prepared a search list. The search list mentioned that 400.47 kg gold had been inventorised and was kept in safe and vaults of Surana, sealed in presence of independent witnesses and the MD of Surana corporation and its officials,” the agency spokesperson said.
According to CBI, the vaults were opened and inspected, according to the directions of the Madras high court, in the presence of official liquidator, officials belonging to six banks and independent witnesses from February 27 to 29 this year to hand over the gold to the lender
banks of Surana Corporation.
“The seals affixed on the vaults were found intact. However, gold weighed only 296.66 kg. The agency promptly ordered an internal inquiry by a senior officer to look into the role of its officials, if any,” the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson said the inventorised gold was not kept in the agency’s ‘malkhana’ but on the premises of Surana under CBI’s seal. While the inquiry was on, a petition was filed in the Madras high court, which pronounced an order on December 11.
“CBI’s internal inquiry continues and if any adverse role of any agency officials surfaces, strict action will be taken against them,” the agency said.
Regarding the investigation of the case being assigned to state police, the agency said the high court had observed that CBI under the DSPE Act did not have authority to register a theft case which falls within the domain of local police. “The case will be registered by the CB-CID of state and investigation will be conducted by an officer of the rank of SP in CB-CID,” it said.
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