CP stalls transfer of cop in gold seizure enquiry

Nagpur: Police chief BK Upadhyay has stayed the transfer of a constable, under scanner in the alleged 4.5kg gold seizure case, to a plum posting at the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cell of crime branch on Friday.
The constable was involved in the rumoured seizure of 4.50kg unaccounted gold on December 3, which is not on the record nor confirmed by any source. The gold apparently belonged to a Itwari-based bullion trader, and was being transported without documents to avoid taxes.

One of the constables involved in the alleged seizure was then transferred to crime branch. The constable had come from NDPS cell of crime branch to Tehsil police station, and was being shifted back to the same unit along with two others, said sources.

The transfer came even while Zonal DCP Rahul Maknikar was enquiring into the gold seizure. Maknikar too did not know about the transfer or that the cop was linked to the seizure. Maknikar said he had questioned some cops from Tehsil police station but not the cop in question.

“I summoned one of the bullion traders twice, but he said no gold had been seized by Tehsil police or purchased by him or anyone,” he said. “I will submit my report to the police chief,” said the DCP.

DCP, crime, Sambhaji Kadam, said oral instructions have already been issued by the top brass cancelling the transfers. He, however, claimed the transfer order and it’s cancellation was due to administrative reasons.