Lok Sabha Question No. 290 (STARRED), answered on 2016-08-05
Subject: Theft of Gold
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: KANWAR SINGH TANWAR, DUSHYANT CHAUTALA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *290

TO BE ANS WERED ON FRIDAY 5th AUGUSL 2016 SHRAVANA 14,1938 [SAKA]

## Theft of Gold

## *290: SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR: SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA:

(a) whether the Government is aware that the and other precious items seized over a of time and kept in various Customs vaults including IGI Airport etc,, have been stolen or replaced with  fake precious items and if the details of such incidents reported during the last three years and the current year, commissionerate-wise; gold period gold/ SO,

(6) whether any high level committee constituted to enquire into the matter and also took note of inventorylstock of in the Customs vaults at the airports and if $0, the findings thereof; gold

(c) the details of inspections carried out at the Customs vaults of the airports and the observations/recommendations thereof; and

(d) the follow-up action taken Or proposed to be taken by the Government to prevent such malpractices in future?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF FINANCE

(SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## (a) Yes Madam: The details are as under: -

| Commissionerate             | Year of detection             |   No: of Cases reported |   of Gold replaced by fake (in gold | Qty: of precious stone replaced by fake stones   | Action taken                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|-----------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Delhi Customs               | 2013-14                       |                      04 |                               10.88 | Nil                                              | FIR with Delhi Police were lodged as and when the cases of theft/replacement of were detected. The matter   involving 47 cases of theft/replacement of detected since 2013-14 have been referred to CBI for investigation _in July 2016 gold gold |
| Delhi Customs               | 2014-15                       |                      01 |                                1.51 | Nil                                              | FIR with Delhi Police were lodged as and when the cases of theft/replacement of were detected. The matter   involving 47 cases of theft/replacement of detected since 2013-14 have been referred to CBI for investigation _in July 2016 gold gold |
| Delhi Customs               | 2015-16                       |                      05 |                               11.26 | Nil                                              | FIR with Delhi Police were lodged as and when the cases of theft/replacement of were detected. The matter   involving 47 cases of theft/replacement of detected since 2013-14 have been referred to CBI for investigation _in July 2016 gold gold |
| Delhi Customs               | 2016-17 June, 2016 30th (till |                      37 |                               58.92 | Nil                                              | FIR with Delhi Police were lodged as and when the cases of theft/replacement of were detected. The matter   involving 47 cases of theft/replacement of detected since 2013-14 have been referred to CBI for investigation _in July 2016 gold gold |
| Mumbai Customs-I            | 2013-14                       |                      01 |                                1.92 | Nil                                              | The matter was referred to Central Intelligence Unit, Customs, Mumbai and a complaint was also lodged with Mumbai Police:                                                                                                                         |
| Trichy Customs (Preventive) | 2015-16                       |                      01 |                               39.82 | Nil                                              | The case was handed over to CBI for investigation. Two officers of Customs who were custodians were_placed under suspension:                                                                                                                      |

(b) & (c) Directorate General of Vigilance, CBEC was in June; 2015 entrusted by the CBEC to inquire and investigate in the matter of theftlreplacement of at IGI Airport. Instructions were issued by CBEC to all Customs field formations for verification of all During stock verification; the seals and weight of valuables were verified. However the packages were not opened. No discrepancy was reported by any of the field formations of CBEC except Delhi Customs (IGI Airport) gold

(d) In order to further strengthen and streamline the procedure of storage and disposal of valuable goods and to avoid any instance of loss, pilferage, damage, theft, misappropriation of valuables, detailed guidelines/instructions were issued by CBEC on 1.12.2015 reiterating the existing instructions and procedure to be followed by the Customs field formations for handling, storage and safe custody of seized/confiscated valuables. The guidelines inter alia prescribe the responsibility and duty of Custodian; procedure for receipt and storage of valuables; packaging and sealing of valuables; installation of CCTV cameras in the strong rooms; restriction of entry into the strong rooms and keeping record of entries and exit; reiterate the double lock system; detailed record keeping procedure for taking inventory, receipt; movement and disposal of valuables; periodical inspection and physical verification/stock taking:

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