‘Suspects’ still ill, no progress in Chennai Central parcel scam

CHENNAI: A fortnight after five railway employees were suspended after a purported

parcel scam

at Chennai Central railway station, the Southern Railway administration has not made any progress either in the departmental inquiry against the employees or in exploring a criminal angle.


The five employees facing charges have reported sick after being transferred out of Central. “Since they have not reported for duty we are unable to conduct the inquiry,” said a senior official.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) inspector at Central, who is investigating the 11 missing parcels, told TOI that they have sent letters to the five calling for inquiry, but they have not shown up.

The case pertains to a parcel sent from Central to Howrah of which 11 cartons were found lying on a platform. The five employees, led by D Yuvaraj, branch secretary of Southern Railway Mazdoor Union (SRMU), the sole recognised union, allegedly took away the 11 cartons forcefully from the parcel office. They were handed the heaviest charge memo penalty and transferred out of Central but only till November 30. They have not reported for duty even for a day which has impeded the investigation, said officials.

A Janakiraman, working president of Dakshin Railway Employees Union (DREU), a rival union, said the Chennai divisional railway manager (DRM) should speak to the chief medical director (CMD) and investigate the reasons for their sickness. “The sick leave is a ruse to derail the probe. It should be investigated,” he said.

DRM Naveen Gulati told TOI that if need be the railways would get the employees examined by a separate medical board. “But we don’t take decisions in haste,” he said.

SRMU general secretary N Kanniah told TOI that the employees were available for inquiry and no hide and seek was being played. “The five are cooperating with the inquiry. The procedure is on,” he said.

Meanwhile, the RPF inspector has sent a preliminary inquiry report to his bosses in the headquarters. Sources said the latter made some remarks regarding the lack of CCTV footage from inside the station and obtaining the footage from a camera opposite to the parcel office on Wall Tax Road.