Chennai: After nearly 100 kilos of gold was reported missing from CBI custody in Chennai, the Madras High Court on Ssaturday directed the Tamil Nadu Crime Branch-CID police to probe the case.
In a major embarassment for the central probe agency, atleast 103 kg of gold which was seized by CBI in a raid from an importer in the city was reported 'missing'.
In a raid carried out by the CBI at the office of Surana Corporation Ltd in Chennai in 2012, at least 400.47 kg gold in bullion and ornaments were confiscated.
On Friday, Justice P N Prakash directed the CB-CID to conduct an inquiry by an officer in the rank of superintendent of police to be completed in six months. It rejected CBI's submission that its prestige would "go down" if the investigation was carried out by local police.
The judge said, "This court cannot subscribe to this view because the law does not sanction such an inference."
The matter relates to a petition filed by the liquidator of Surana Corporation Ltd, seeking a direction to CBI to handover the remaining 103.864 kg gold. The seized material was kept in the safes and vaults of Surana Corporation Ltd under the CBI's lock and seal.
The central agency submitted that it had handed over the 72 keys of the safes and vaults to the Chennai principal special court for CBI cases.
Meanwhile, the CBI claimed that during the seizure, the gold bars were weighed all- together but while handing over to the liquidator, appointed for a settlement of debts between Surana and SBI, it was weighed individually and that was the reason for the discrepancy.
READ CBI's STATEMENT HERE:
In response to media queries related to a news item “Missing of 100 Kg Gold in Tamil Nadu” published today in National Daily, it is clarified that CBI in RC.24/2012, searched building of Surana Corporation limited, NSC Bose Road, Chennai and prepared a search list. The search list mentioned that 400.47 kg gold has 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.
As per the directions of the Hon'ble High Court the vaults were opened in the presence of official liquidator, officials belonging to six Banks and independent witnesses and inspected from 27/02/2020 to 29/02/2020 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 kgs. As the discrepancy between the quantity mentioned in search memo and as per the weight came to notice, CBI promptly ordered an internal inquiry by a senior officer to look into the role of its officials, if any.
It is clarified that the inventorised gold was not kept in Malkhana of CBI. Rather it was in premises of Surana only under the seal.
While the enquiry was on, the petition was filed in High Court and accordingly High Court passed an order dated 11.12.2020. CBI’s internal enquiry continues and if any adverse role of any CBI officials surfaces, strict action will be taken against them.
Hon’ble High Court has observed that CBI under the DSPE Act does 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.
(With inputs from agencies)
