5 held for stealing iron from coastal road project site

Police said the theft had been taking place over the past few months and they suspect that Supane, a former employee of the company who has earlier worked at the coastal road project’s site, is the mastermind.

An investigating officer said, “Between 2 and 2.30 pm on December 3, a bouncer saw two trucks, loaded with iron material, leaving the site. He became suspicious as it was a Sunday and work had stopped by 1 pm.”

Police said when the bouncer started investigating, some guards told him that Kate, who was working as a marshal, had given permission. The truck had left with 12 tonnes of iron material from the site. When the bouncer reported the matter to his superiors, Kate was called in for inquiry.

“Kate claimed that his colleague Pasi, a sweeper and office boy at the site, had requested him to do so, and Pasi said he was paid Rs 65,000 by Supane for the job, an investigator said.

Thereupon one of the managers of the company approached Tardeo police station and lodged a complaint. A case was then registered under relevant sections of theft and criminal breach of trust of the Indian Penal Code.
An officer said, “Kate, Pasi and Supane were all called for questioning at the police station and after their roles were identified, they were arrested on December 5.”

Supane in his confession said he had paid Rs 2.62 lakh to Mahato after which he sent him pictures of two trucks on Whatsapp, and requested him to load the trucks with iron material. Biswas, who helped him load the iron, was also arrested on December 6, an officer said.

Senior police inspector Vivek Shende of Tardeo police station said, “The five accused were produced before court for the second time on Friday and were remanded in judicial custody. We have learnt that Supane is the main accused in the case as he came up with the plan and roped in those who were working for the company.”

Police said they were trying to ascertain the value of the iron that the five accused had stolen in the past.