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Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: April 6, 2006
URL: http://cities.expressindia.com/archivefullstory.php?newsid=176778&creation_date=2006-04-06
Introduction: Owned by NCP leader Ishwarlal Jain, who also runs a jewellery-store chain, consignment was passed through naka; 2 cops transferred for asking questions
Four kg of gold and Rs 3 crore in cash are found in a car at the Kalwa checkpost. The driver has no transaction papers, but the police let him go-on the intervention of Home Minister R R Patil.
Patil's response, when The Indian Express spoke to him: ''I found nothing wrong. It's a large jewellery store, they do crores of business.''
The owner of the gold and money is former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) treasurer and ex-legislator Ishwarlal Jain-also the owner of Jalgaon-based Rajmal Lakhichand Jewellers, a large chain of jewellery stores. He was having the goods delivered in a Chevrolet when it was stopped at the Kalwa checkpoint.
Though his driver allegedly had no transaction papers to explain the huge consignment, he was allowed to leave the police station-with the goods-after somebody called 'Jain' travelling with him made a few calls.
A police team intercepted the SUV-it was on its way from Jalgaon to Mumbai-at 4 am on March 29.
There were two suitcases inside, which the driver said he did not have the keys to.
They were to be delivered to a dealer in Worli, he added.
Worried that the cases might hold ammunition, the police filed a panchnama and forced the bags open at nearby Bajarpeth police station. Instead of the suspected weapons, they found an astounding 4 kg of gold and Rs 3 crore in cash.
However, as soon as the police began making inquiries about the material, phones at the police station began ringing, telling them to let the driver go.
Not only was the driver allowed to leave-with the suitcases-but the two Bajarpeth police officials who intercepted the vehicle were transferred soon after.
While Police Sub-Inspector B R Chavhan has been moved to the Kalyan wireless office, Constable Chaudhary has been put on patrol duty.
While Patil insists the police did nothing wrong, Thane Police Commissioner D Shivanandan refused comment, and Bajarpeth Senior Police Inspector Abhay Yeole was unavailable.
Ishwarlal Jain was not available for comment.
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