Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)

Belagavi, May 23: As much as 4.9 kg gold which was concealed inside a car that went missing when it was parked in the compound of Yamakanamaradi police station and was seized during inspection, has gone missing.

The missing of gold worth about Rs 2.5 crore is currently being investigated by the criminal investigation department (CID). There is suspicion that high level police officials would have been involved.

Representational image

Under the instructions of northern range inspector general of police, Raghavendra Suhas, a car that was going towards Maharashtra from Mangaluru on January 9 had been inspected by the police plersonnel of Yamakanamaradi police station. The Ertiga car belonged to an entrepreneur from Mangaluru. It was found that in violation of transport rules, secret boxes had been created inside the car's airbags. Therefore the car was taken into custody and case was registered.

The police at that time reportedly did not know that gold was concealed inside the airbags of the car. Before March this year, the sub-inspector had informed the deputy superintendent of police that the car glass had developed cracks. Under instructions from the DySP he got new glass fixed to the car. The CID officials suspect that the gold would have disappeared on this occasion.

In the meanwhile, the car owner had contacted a middleman with whom a contract of Rs 30 lac was struck to get the car released. It is said that out of this, Rs 25 lac was handed over. On April 16, the court ordered the car to be released. When the car owner came to take the car away, he came to know about the missing gold. He then filed a complaint.

Belagavi north range inspector general of police, Raghavendra Suhas, Gokak deputy superintendent of police, Jawed Inamdar, Hukkeri circle police inspector and Yamakanamaradi police sub-inspector, Ramesh Patil and some others have been transferred relating to this case but there is not much headway in finding the missing gold.