Rs 11.60 lakh in cash destroyed in fire

Vadodara, Jan 2 (UNI) Currency worth Rs 11.60 lakh and several crime records were reduced to ashes when a cupboard in the record room of Sayajiganj police station caught fire.

According to city Police Commissioner Rajan Priyadarshi, exposure of a Nokia cellphone battery caused the fire. No one was injured in the incident. Police personnel on duty were able to retrieve cash worth Rs 70,000, the fire engulfed several important case papers and seized properties, including Rs 11.60 lakh in cash and 25 cellphones. Later, fire brigade controlled the fire.

Out of Rs 11.60 lakh cash destroyed in the explosion, Rs 5.98 lakh was seized from Jayanti Pateliya and other co-accused arrested last year in connection with the infamous Star Ruby triple murder case.

Sources said barring one cupboard, all other records and cupboards kept in the record room on the second floor of the Sayajiganj police station, were safe.

Further investigations were on.

UNI SS GR AE DS1440