Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Police bust freight diversion gang

Staff Reporter

Three transporters, 9 scrap merchants, six drivers held

VISAKHAPATNAM: With the arrest of 19 persons and seizure of half-a-dozen lorries, the police have busted a racket involved in pilferage of high carbon ferro chrome material worth Rs. 80 lakhs booked by two industries for export to Korea.

The Commissioner of Police, V.S.K. Kaumudi, told reporters on Wednesday that on a complaint from GMR Industries, Tekkali and Ferro Alloys Corporation, Garividi, they took up a thorough investigation and nabbed three transporters, nine scrap merchants and six truck drivers. One of the leading scrap merchants in the city, who was the kingpin behind the racket, was also arrested.

M/s. S.K. Resources Limited of Pahangport in Korea had placed an order on GMR and FACOR for supply of 4,500 tonnes of high carbon ferro chrome.

The scam came to light during a draught survey in the port two months ago. After the survey, the ship crew had reported a shortage of 234 tonnes to FACOR. A few days later, GMR confirmed a shortage of 238 tonne after loading the cargo into a ship. Mr. Kaumudi said during investigation, they arrested Ramakrishnamaraju, a driver, belonging to S.Kota. In pursuance of his confession, Majji Sivareddy, Jennala Jayaraj and Sabbavarapu Sujeevan Kumar, lorry owners, were arrested along with the vehicle drivers.

The Commissioner said the gang members used to divert stock during transport from Tekkali and Garividi to Visakhapatnam and store it in small godowns. Later they were selling the pilfered material to businessmen in New Delhi and Kolkata. He also complimented the Inspectors, Ravi Prakash and Ravi Varma, for their contribution in busting the racket.

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