Gems worth Rs 1 cr missing from Mumbai airport

Mumbai: How precious gems worth crores stored in a well-secured strong room at the Mumbai International Airport went missing is the question that officials from the Customs department are asking Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) the company that developed and runs the airport.

Last Saturday, the airport received a consignment of emeralds from Mumbai-based Super Gems and Jewels Company worth Rs 15 crore. According to reports, the consignment had to be sent to the diamond plaza at the Bandra- Kurla Complex for expert evaluation on Monday.

A Customs officer told MiD DAY that the consignment of emeralds was divided into four different packets and was to be transported under the custody of senior Customs officials. However, as one of the officials responsible for the transfer was unavailable, the shifting was delayed and the precious stones were stored in the secured strong room at the airport.

The next day when the transfer was to be done, the officials found that the emeralds from one of the packets were less.

Blame game

A senior Customs official confirmed the incident and blamed MIAL for the entire matter. "The emerald consignment was worth Rs 15 crore. We had made four packets of the consignment and deputed one preventive officer for the assignment.

As he was not available that day, we postponed the transfer and kept the packets in the vault of MIAL. The next day when the vault was opened to collect the packets, the weight of one of the packets was less, which raised some doubts."

The official added, "The same was investigated and it was found that emeralds worth Rs 1 crore from the fourth packet were missing. A detailed investigation has been initiated. MIAL is responsible and are going to be interrogated as to how emeralds from the strong room could go missing."

When MiD DAY contacted the Super Gems and Jewellery office, officials refused to divulge any details and refused to comment on the matter. Govind Rajan, vice-president of MIAL, also refused to confirm the incident. "I am not aware of any emeralds worth crores missing," he said. When he was later asked whether any such incident happened, instead of confirming it, he said, "I can only say emeralds worth crores are not missing."