4 kg gold worth nearly Rs 1.2 crore seized
The two officials, identified as Paul Raj and Soundar Rajan, had allegedly received the gold from a passenger arriving from Singapore and had hidden it in the toilet located near the immigration counter. (Photo: AP)
Chennai: Two policemen attached to the immigration department at Chennai airport but found helping a gold smuggler to hide 4 kg gold, worth nearly Rs 1.2 crore, were caught red-handed with the help of surveillance cameras by a DRI team on Tuesday night.
The two officials, identified as Paul Raj and Soundar Rajan, had allegedly received the gold from a passenger arriving from Singapore and had hidden it in the toilet located near the immigration counter.
Another policeman, working for the immigration department, had come under adverse notice a month ago after he was found to be very close to a gold smuggler. He was subsequently transferred back to armed reserve of the Tamil Nadu police.
The DRI team, waiting for the smuggler based on tip-off, was checking the video clippings to make sure they had not missed anyone. They then saw a passenger meeting the two staff of the immigration department and handing over a parcel. The footage also showed the two employees walking towards the restroom and returning empty–handed.
When questioned, the two confessed to the crime and they were arrested by the DRI. However, they could not track the passenger who handed over the gold to the immigration employees. In another seizure, the DRI recovered 4 kg of gold from a 40-year-old woman residing at Kotturpuram, who arrived from Bahrain on Wednesday morning, and arrested her. Since Tuesday night, a total of 8 kg of gold, worth over Rs 2.4 crore, was seized by the DRI teams.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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