Great train robbery: Police draw a blank; nearly 100 persons questioned
CB-CID that took over investigation from Government Railway Police (GRP) four days ago began simultaneous probe in Salem and in the city.
Chennai: The multi-agency probe into the great train robbery has not yielded much despite quizzing nearly 100-odd of the nearly 300 people who were believed to have prior information about the cash transit.
Sources said the number 300 was not fixed. It was arrived at taking into consideration the staff of the logistics firm, railway and RBI employees besides Armed Reserve police team that escorted the cash.
A total of 15 investigation teams were pressed into service and investigation had intensified in the city, with cops strongly suspecting that the money must have been stolen when the wagon was stabled at Chetpet yard, although there was nothing tangible to support this theory, except for the poor quality CCTV footage from Tambaram.
The thieves lifted Rs 5.75 crore of the total 342 crore cash belonging to the RBI and meant to be destroyed, by making a hole in the roof of the parcel van brought to city from Salem on Tuesday last.
The CB-CID that took over investigation from Government Railway Police (GRP) four days ago began simultaneous probe in Salem and in the city. The teams also started quizzing slum dwellers along the tracks near Chetpet yard where the wagon was left unattended under cover of darkness for quite sometime.
“Did you spot any strangers? Did you see anyone carrying sacks? If yes, which way did they go?” are among the few questions asked by investigators.
The police are also collecting CCTV footage along the lanes leading to tracks at Chetpet tard, hoping to get leads to support their theory that the heist might have taken place in Chetpet Yard. CCTV footage obtained twice, once when the train arrived, and the other to check the visibility of the hole present, had already been sent for examination.
They had also summoned on Monday eight railway officials for interrogation. The railway personnel were from various departments from shunting, commercial (which also covers freight handling), and the loco running staff.