SIT struggles to recover gold ‘looted’ by GRP personnel

Gaya: Even as the four cops of the Government Rail Police (GRP) accused of looting about 1 kg of gold from the employee of a gold dealer play hide and seek, recovery of the looted item has become a major challenge for the SIT constituted to crack the case.According to the case, Dhanjay Shaswat, employee of Manoj Soni, a gold dealer was robbed of about 1 kg of gold during rail travel between Koderma and Gaya stations on Nov 21, 2025. The courier was travelling with the gold in the general compartment of the 22307 Howrah - Jodhpur Superfast Express.More than a week later, an FIR was lodged against the gold courier and four unnamed constables deputed at the Railway police station in Gaya. The FIR was lodged on the basis of a complaint made by Gaya GRP SHO Rajesh Kumar Singh.During the investigation of the case, Rail DSP came across some very serious evidence against the rail police station SHO and the four constables. On the basis of the Rail DSP’s report, the SHO and four constables were made accused in the case.Interestingly enough, the role of Virendra Prasad, the first investigating officer (IO) of the case was also found to be suspect. The IO has since been suspended and the case is now being investigated by the SIT. The cellphone location of the accused policemen turned out to be their undoing.Rajesh Kumar Singh, the complainant-turned-accused, has already been arrested and sent to Gaya central jail and on Monday his bail petition was rejected by the special court dealing with rail-related cases. However, having been suspended the constables accused of robbing gold from the courier have successfully evaded arrest. According to sources, the absconding cops are privy to the location of the booty and as such the SIT is frantically looking for them.Asked about the progress in the investigation of the case, Rail DIG Rajiv Mishra said the investigation was proceeding in the right direction and enough scientific evidence has been gathered to take it to the logical conclusion. The DIG, however, regretted that Manoj Soni, the gold dealer, was not cooperating in the investigation of the case.