Uranium racket unearthed

CHENNAI, July 23: The CBI appears to have unearthed a major racket in theft of uranium in Tamil Nadu, with seizure of over eight kg of th...

CHENNAI, July 23: The CBI appears to have unearthed a major racket in theft of uranium in Tamil Nadu, with seizure of over eight kg of the nuclear material in granule form and the arrest of three persons over the last few days.

Preliminary analysis of samples from the first seized package of six kg, by scientists at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research IGCAR at Kalpakkam, near here, showed that they were capable of gamma radiation emission, having energy corresponding to natural Uranium-238 and U-235.

The CBI, which commenced a preliminary enquiry over a week ago, seized the six kilograms from GR Arun, a city engineer, and S Murthy, his associate. They were arrested and on Monday last, sent to the CBI8217;s custody till July 29.

Neither was an employee of any nuclear establishment; nor could they satisfactorily explain the possession of uranium, the CBI informed a magistrate court.

Meanwhile, the interrogation of Murthy led to the arrest yesterday of C Mohan, a resident of Erode in Tamil Nadu,who was allegedly possessing a small quantity of uranium and a platinum piece weighing 31 grams with foreign markings. He was produced in court this evening and sent to CBI custody for interrogation till July 31. Arun8217;s questioning led to two more kg being seized from a fourth man who is yet to be arrested. The CBI suspects the involvement of some public servants, as uranium could fetch up to Rs one crore across the border, a CBI source said. Meanwhile, IGCAR director Dr Placid Rodriguez, said the uranium could not have come from the Madras Atomic Power Station MAPS at Kalpakkam near Chennai. No complaint of theft had been lodged by MAPS.

The uranium was found in polythene bags in the form of granules, and samples of the seized material have been sent for examination to Kalpakkam, the CBI said.

In its submission to the court, the agency, which registered a case on July 19, said even during a preliminary inquiry, it had seized the first package of six kg on July 16. Subsequently, Arun and Murthy wereinterrogated and arrested.

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Two samples were sent to IGCAR, which, in its preliminary report, said the material emitted gamma radiation having energy corresponding to natural Uranium-238 and Uranium-235.8217;

8220;The approximate estimate of the abundance of U-235 in the samples indicated is 1.40 per cent to 2.20 per cent,8221; the Central Bureau of Investigation said, adding that the materials were being subjected to chemical and neutron activation analysis, and a final report was awaited.

Mohan, from whom the small quantity of uranium was seized, along with the platinum piece having a foreign marking, was interrogated by the Central Bureau of Investigation yesterday until he was arrested at 2000 hrs last night.