Crores in lockers, no one to claim

The notice says: ‘‘The locker-holders are required to deposit rent within 30 days failing which their lockers will be broken and opened…The contents, if any, will be auctioned and the sales proceeds adjusted against the rent.’’

It further says, ‘‘If the sale proceeds fall short of the rent arrears the bank will initiate proceedings against the holders for the recovery of rent.”

A week ago Central Bank of India opened about two dozen such lockers in the presence of senior bank officials, three witnesses and some Godrej company employees. The lockers were full of diamond, gold and silver jewellery and cash. One locker alone contained jewellery worth more than Rs 1 crore and some had Swiss stamps, sources added.

However, Central Bank officials differed from SBI counterparts on the right to auction the jewellery to recover rent arrears. Assistant General Manager of the bank S.S. Jaiswal said, ‘‘We are merely trustees of the contents. We cannot auction them. First we shall try to trace the holders. The bank will consider legal action later.’’

Police have not ruled out connection of some of the locker-holders with underworld and has thus appointed SP City (West) Harish Kumar to investigate the case.