RECOVERY OF Rs 2.7 crore in foreign currency from seven arrested accused in a curious case of theft – reported to be of value of Rs 10 lakh – has led the Vadodara City Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) on a trail to ascertain the source of the forex, including checking if the complainant – a gift shop owner – underreported the theft value “with intent”.
The Vadodara DCB, which has taken over the case of theft from the local city police, is now faced with ascertaining the source of the forex – currency notes of over 20 countries worth Rs 2.7 crore, recovered from the seven accused arrested in the theft case so far. Two other accused, including one of the two masterminds, is yet to be apprehended. The Vadodara DCB has also invoked sections pertaining to dacoity in the robbery case as the number of accused has crossed five.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshukumar Verma told The Indian Express on Monday that the recovery of foreign currency from the accused had come as a “surprise” to the police. Verma said that the complainant, Lilaram Revani, had “not specified” the items of theft but only stated that the value of the theft was Rs 10 lakh. The foreign currency includes the US, UK, Gulf, New Zealand, South East Asian countries and others.
“The arrest of a total of seven accused – including one mastermind – led us to the notes, which included foreign currency from over 20 countries. We have primarily found that the complainant was into a licensed business of forex trading a few years ago but currently, he has not produced any documents to state that he has a licence for the same…” Verma said.
With the panchnama of the crime underway, Verma said that Revani would soon be summoned for questioning. “He reported a theft of Rs 10 lakh without specifying forex or Indian currency… Therefore, either he or the accused will need to explain the source of the Rs 2.7 crore of forex currency of 20 countries. The question is whether the complainant willfully underreported the amount… and if so, why? We are conducting the panchnama and proceeding with the probe so that we have a clear picture within two days; two other accused, who are yet to be arrested, will also reveal details once they are in our custody,” Verma said
Executed after elaborate planning and “recce” by two of the nine accused booked in the case, the accused allegedly threw chilli powder in the eyes of the 67-year-old businessman and snatched a bag from his possession. while the complainant was returning home to Warasiya from his shop in Karelibaug as per his daily routine on Friday evening. The accused accosted Revani when he was parking his car and fled with his bag that had “Rs 10 lakh in cash”, as per the FIR registered at Warasiya police station.
