CBI, India robbed! 103 kg of gold goes missing from its custody! It was worth INR 45 crore!

THIS HAPPENS ONLY IN INDIA! CBI THERE HAS BEEN ROBBED! YES, around 103 kilograms of gold with a total value of 45 crores is missing from the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in India. This gold was part of the 400.47 kg of ornaments and pure gold biscuits that were seized by the CBI during its raid on the office of Surana Corporation Ltd, Chennai in the year 2012. The yellow metal was supposedly in the safes and vaults of the firm but the CBI had put its lock and seal on it! Know the story here!

CBI robbed! Gold goes missing from its custody

It has come to the notice that gold weighing 103 kg and worth Indian rupees 45 crores has gone missing from the custody of CBI, India. This gold was confiscated by the agency from Surana Corporation Ltd from its Chennai branch. The gold in the form of bullion and ornaments was kept in the safes and vaults of the company but the seal and lock of it were with the CBI. The CBI had carried out the raid in 2012. Then how did the gold disappear? When did it disappear? Why was it still there after 8 years?

Gold worth 45 crores missing from CBI custody [Source: HT]

There are multiple questions in the mind of the people but no answers yet. The reason is that the matter is still under investigation. Will the case be solved or will it remain hanging like the other innumerable cases in that country?

Madras Court orders investigation

The Madras High Court has taken cognizance of the matter and asked the CID of Tamil Nadu to look into the probe. The court has ordered that the investigation should be handled by an officer of the SP rank and should be completed within 6 months. Will it be completed by then?

Madras High Court [Source: Wikipedia]

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The presiding Judge, Justice PN Prakash rubbished the claim of the CBI that its reputation would be at stake if the local police do the probe. The Judge said:

"This court cannot subscribe to this view because the law does not sanction such an inference. All policemen must be trusted, and it does not lie in the mouth of one to say that CBI have special horns, whereas, local police have only a tail."

The Judge said that it would be a test for the central agency.

What are the claims of the CBI?

The CBI has stated that there were 72 keys of the safes and vaults of the company, Surana Corporation. It further claimed that they had handed over these keys to the Chennai principal special court which looks into the cases of the central agency. They had searched the whole premises of the building of the Surana Corporation and discovered 400.47 kg of gold there. They made an inventory of it and placed it back in the safes and vaults of the firm. The safes were all sealed in the presence of the Surana Corporation MD and other company officials and also independent witnesses.

CBI, India [Source: The Print]

The CBI opened the safes in the presence of the official liquidator, bank officials from six banks, and also independent witnesses from 27-29 February 2020. This was done following the High Court’s directions that the gold is handed over to the lender banks. The seals of the safes were intact, the CBI said. But on weighing the gold, it was only 296 kg. They have started an internal investigation into the role if any of their own officials in this matter.