Five policemen arrested in gold theft case

Nasik, Aug 13 (UNI) Five policemen were arrested here today for their alleged involvement in the theft of Rs 25 lakh gold ornaments case.

Senior Police Inspector Babasaheb Budhwant, constables Rajendra Nagarkar, Kailas Thete, Vitthal Mali and Tatya Wagh, all from Ambad police station of the Commissionerate here, surrendered before the City crime branch officers today. They were formally arrested later.

The Mumbai High Court had rejected their plea for anticipatory bail last week. Also, the duration to get a stay order on the arrest from the Supreme Court ended yesterday. Following this, they surrendered before the police today.

On May 15, a parcel of Mr Satish Takle, a jeweller, was stolen from a truck at Vilholi Naka, under the jurisdiction of Ambad police station. The parcel contained gold, diamonds and some ornaments worth Rs 25 lakh. On a request by Mr Takle, these police personnel conducted investigation in the matter without registering a case.

They took five people into custody and also recovered the stolen goods. They kept the accused at a private place instead of the police station and later released them. These police personnel then registered a complaint on May 28 that goods worth Rs 10 lakh had been stolen and recovered but did not disclose the other goods.

Following this, Mr Takle took the matter to the city Police Commissioner. An inquiry was ordered and the five cops were suspended on June 12.

A case had been filed against them under sections 217, 218, 414, 167&34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Meanwhile, the five were produced before a local court today which remanded them to 5-days police custody till August 18.

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