Gujarat: Gold worth Rs 1.10 crore missing from Jamnagar customs' custody

RAJKOT: Gold worth Rs 1.10 crore is missing from the custody of Jamnagar custom department, according to an FIR registered with Jamnagar B division police station.
These were the gold samples seized by the customs officials during the 1980s. The FIR alleged that some government official is involved in this criminal breach of trust even knowing this is government property, the gold is siphoned off for personal benefit.
According to the FIR lodged by Ramsing Yadav, an inspector working with the customs department, Jamnagar, the samples of smuggled gold and silver seized during the various raids by Bhuj custom division during 1971 to 1996 were kept at Bhuj custom office.
The office got damaged during the 2001 earthquake and the gold nearly 3149.398 gram along with silver transferred to Jamnagar custom office.
This gold suitcase was sealed by the responsible officials of Jamnagar and Bhuj division of custom departments. The custom seal of 2001 showing the signatures of the gold depositor and gold receiver.
According to FIR, the samples packed in the suitcase was returned to Bhuj custom division on October 18, 2016, with the same seal after completing the formalities. Thereafter in Bhuj, the seal was broken in the presence of officers of Jamnagar and Bhuj custom divisions and other witnesses after completing the Panchnama.
The keys of this suitcase were missing so they broke the lock. It was found that the gold 2156.722 gram from the five samples seized between 1982 and 1986 was missing. The current market value of this missing gold shown in the FIR is Rs 1.10 crore.
According to sources, the customs officials came to know about missing gold in 2016 but thereafter started internal communication and they informed chief commissioner of Gujarat about the missing gold.
The chief commissioner on December 11 asked officials of Jamnagar to register a formal police FIR.