Mumbai: Retired cop booked for usurping valuables worth Rs 21 lakh

MUMBAI: An retired assistant sub-inspector has been booked after he allegedly usurped 'muddemaal' (recovered property) worth Rs 21.6 lakh of which he was the custodian before his retirement from the force. Nandkumar Kharat, 58, is yet to be arrested.
Kharat used to work at the Nirmal Nagar police station in Khar East as a 'muddemaal karkoon' (clerk). His job was to keep items recovered in various cases under lock and key and maintain a database.
"Kharat was the custodian of recovered property for five years between 2015 and 2020. After his retirement last year, another constable was appointed as a clerk in his position. But while taking stock of the 'muddemaal', the new appointee could not find cash and gold worth Rs 21.6 lakh in the vault. He then reported the matter to superiors," a senior police official said.
The Nirmal Nagar police station got in touch with Kharat who stays in Kalyan and asked him to remain present with the recovered property.
"He was called on two occasions but failed to turn up. The property in his custody pertains to recoveries made in 133 different cases," said the official.
Eventually, an FIR was registered under section 409 of IPC (Criminal breach of trust by public servant) against Kharat. The department will question him before making an arrest.