In Varanasi, UP, such a treasure loaded on a loader was caught, which surprised everyone from the police to the Income Tax Department. Imagine, 467 kg silver worth Rs 6 crore, along with 662 kg gilt (fake white metal)… all this was recovered from Lahartara area in an overloaded pickup vehicle. Even the police had no idea that such a huge smuggling network would be exposed during routine checking.
Actually, in the ongoing checking under Operation Chakravyuh Varanasi The police detained four people, who are said to be involved in this illegal silver business. The police team of Sigra police station area was checking the vehicles under Operation Chakravyuh.
An overloaded pickup vehicle came into the sight of the police near Lahartara intersection. There was doubt after seeing the condition of the vehicle, but when the police asked the driver for information about the goods, the answer was vague. Suspicion grew, and as the search of the vehicle began, packets filled with white metal started coming out one by one.
At first it was thought that it was gilt (fake metal), but when the investigation went deeper, real silver blocks, coins and anklets were found in some packets. The police immediately informed the Income Tax Department.
467 kg silver and 662 kg gilt
When the complete counting and weighing was done, everyone was stunned. There was a total of 1129 kg of white metal in the vehicle, out of which 467 kg of real silver and 662 kg of gilt were found. The Income Tax Department immediately started investigation and found that the value of the recovered silver in the market was approximately Rs 6 crore.
ADCP Saravana T. said that this action has been taken under Operation Chakravyuh. He said that when we stopped the vehicle and checked, the driver and his companions did not have any satisfactory documents. After this, when the vehicle was searched, such a huge cache of white metal was discovered. In preliminary investigation, it has been said that this goods was brought to Varanasi from Agra and Mathura.
How was the entire network running?
Initial investigation by the police revealed that this network was active for months. Smugglers used to send silver in small parcels from Agra and Mathura in private buses. Then after reaching Varanasi, these parcels were supplied further through the local transport network.
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The four arrested accused are residents of Varanasi and are associated with transport business. Their work was normal for show, but behind it there was a game of illegal supply of silver.
According to sources, an attempt was being made to convert black money into white before Diwali through this network. The demand for silver jewelery and coins suddenly increases during festival times, and taking advantage of this opportunity, smugglers were preparing to send large consignments to Varanasi and surrounding districts.
Joint investigation of police and income tax department
As soon as the news of the recovery spread, a joint team of Income Tax Department and Police started interrogation. Now the investigation is focused on who was the source of the silver, and who was its destination in Varanasi. Exact information and documents about the recovered silver have not been found yet. The Income Tax Department is looking for the source and buyers of the goods. It is also being investigated whether the network of any big businessman or jeweler is involved behind this.
Big success before the festival
Just before Diwali, this action of Varanasi Police created panic among silver smugglers. Police are now investigating the call details, financial transactions and contacts of these four accused. The question is, who is the real owner of silver worth Rs 6 crore – and whose safe was this metal supposed to reach? To whom was the silver caught from Lahartara going?
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