29 December,2011 09:18 AM IST | | Bipin Kumar Singh
Rs 1.5-cr gold consignment lost in transit between Hyderabad and Mumbai
The high price of gold has attracted more than keen attention from chain-snatchers in the city. Looking at the chronology of thefts at the Mumbai Airport Cargo complex, a ring of sophisticated cargo bandits is watching, too.
A gold consignment worth Rs 1.44 crore that was booked on an Air India flight 557 from Hyderabad to Mumbai on December 21 is missing in transit. Although the police have begun conducting investigation into possible negligence on behalf of the cargo staff in following procedures, they haven't ruled out the possibility of theft.
"The consignment was supposed to be kept in a locker near the cockpit and after landing, it was to be sent to the cargo zone under security, the norm was not followed. Instead, the consignment was mixed with other cargo and deposited with the cargo department like any normal cargo," said a police official from Airport police station, Santacruz.
"Initial investigations have revealed that the shipment went missing from the Air India Cargo division of Mumbai airport. We have recorded the statement of officials from Air India cargo and will record the statement of ground staff soon," said C K Chavan, assistant commissioner of police, Airport Division.
Sanjay Jain, a courier service provider from Mumbai, who booked the gold consignment on behalf of his clients from Zaveri Bazaar, said, "With no one entertaining me in my quest to locate my consignment, I registered a case against Air India cargo with the cops."
