Berhampur: Three men allegedly posing as officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) decamped with gold ornaments worth about Rs 1 crore from a businessman near Brahmapur Railway Station in this city, police said.
The accused reportedly intercepted the businessman on the pretext of conducting an official inquiry. During the purported verification, they allegedly took possession of a bag containing gold ornaments and fled the scene. According to the complaint filed by the victim, Hasmukh Jain, at the Government Railway Police station in Berhampur, the bag contained 862.562 grams of gold ornaments of various designs, `40,000 in cash, an ATM card and a PAN card.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case (17/26) and launched an investigation. Investigators suspect the involvement of persons known to the victim in planning or executing the crime. No arrests had been reported at the time of filing this report. Police said that Hasmukh Jain, a businessman from Visakhapatnam, owns a gold jewellery design shop in Khaspa Sahi area of Berhampur, police said.
He melts gold at the unit and crafts various designs of necklaces, chains and other ornaments. A few days ago, Jain and an employee travelled to Visakhapatnam. They were returning with gold ornaments in a bag aboard the Konark Express and arrived at Brahmapur railway station around 9:30pm February 25, Wednesday.
As they stepped out of the station and were heading towards the parking area, three men approached them. The trio identified themselves as CBI officers and told Jain they needed to verify him over alleged dealings in smuggled gold. Frightened, Jain handed over the bag filled with gold for inspection. The men then walked a short distance away with the bag. After some time, they disappeared.
Jain and his employee waited outside the station and searched for the men in vain before returning to Khaspa Sahi. Fearing a possible CBI raid, Jain remained anxious. However, when no raid was conducted and the bag was not returned by the next evening, he grew suspicious. Jain lodged a written complaint Friday with the Government Railway Police in Berhampur.
GRP Officer-In-Charge Arati Poddar said police have received the complaint and begun an investigation. CCTV footage from the station is being examined and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the accused, she said.