In a sensational turn of events, a shipping recruitment company in Powai has fallen victim to a daring theft. Gold coins worth a whopping Rs 84 lakhs have been reported missing from the office safe. The incident came to light when an employee discovered the absence of the valuable coins from the locker during a routine check on August 9.
The company, responsible for recruiting and managing ship crews for various shipping-related companies worldwide, immediately lodged a complaint with the Powai police station. Swift action was taken, leading to the arrest of an employee for committing the crime of theft.
Company rewards its dedicated employees, who have completed 5 to 20 years of service, with gold coins weighing between 2 and 20 grams. A dedicated department consisting of 12 employees manages this annual distribution. The remaining coins are stored in a secure locker within a wooden cabinet at the office premises.
It was on August 9 that an employee noticed the absence of the gold coins from the safe, promptly informing the director general manager of the company, Rahul Dudhade. A thorough inspection confirmed that a staggering 285 gold coins weighing between 2 and 20 grams had gone missing. Despite extensive searching, the coins could not be located within the office premises. Subsequently, a complaint was lodged with the Powai police station.
“Intriguingly, there were no signs of forced entry or evidence pointing to an outsider during the initial investigation. As a result, an inquiry has been initiated against all employees who had access to the vault where the coins were stored,” told investigation officer.
In a shocking turn of events, during questioning, an employee by the name of Robert Fernandes confessed to the crime. “He revealed that he had been stealing the coins gradually over a period of almost 2 years,” said senior police inspector Jitendra Sonwane.
The investigation into this audacious heist is still ongoing. The company is currently scrutinizing all transactions that occurred during Fernandes’ tenure to ascertain the exact number and value of the stolen coins. Police Inspector (Crime), Jaideep Gosavi, assured that further information would only be available once the company report is released.
Unbelievably, it has come to light that Fernandes stole and sold the coins to fund his extravagant lifestyle of alcohol and partying. Efforts are now underway to recover the stolen goods.
Fernandes has been arrested and produced in court, facing charges under Section 306 (theft) of the Bhartiy Nyay Sanhita. He remains in police custody until Saturday.
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