Chennai: It took over seven hours for authorities to find out that a parcel van carrying money on Salem Express was burgled on its journey to Chennai, once again throwing light on security loopholes in Southern Railway.
A total amount Rs 5.78 crore was taken away from three boxes out of the 226 boxes on a VPH (high capacity parcel van) came to light only by Tuesday noon even though the train arrived at Chennai Egmore at 4 am.
The train was carrying soiled notes for pulping at RBI. The VPH was taken to Chetpet Railway yard after the train reached Egmore and around 10 am, it was then taken to Egmore parcel shed, where it was parked till RBI officials arrived in the morning.
“One whole box of money was found emptied and half of another box and a few notes were missing from a third box,” said Inspector General of Railway Police M. Ramasubramani. About the security aboard the cash-loaded train, he said there was sufficient police force with the money.
“Even though the hole on top was observed around noon, the official report was filed only by 2.15 pm,” he continued. When RBI officials arrived around 10.45 am, the unloading of money began.
Another police source said there were six state police officers, including an inspector and a DSP, in the next compartment. Senior officers who were part of investigation said a few set of fingerprints and shoe prints have been taken, and further investigation will reveal the modus operandi. “Police teams in Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Salem districts are also investigating,” the official added.
“The VPH is given to a party (in this case, RBI) by railways, the responsibility of loading and unloading and safety lies on the party,” a Railway official said.
