Contractor found pilfering 28,000 kg iron from Ordnance depot in Avadi

The iron was being ferried away in three trucks. The authorities suspect the involvement of the staff at the Ordnance depot.

The Avadi Tank Factory police have registered a case against contractor Kalimuthu, under IPC sections of forgery and cheating based on a complaint from Rineej N, inspector, southern command liaison unit.

During the operation, seven lorries loaded with iron scrap were searched after they left from Ordnance depot, in which three lorries were identified and found carrying scrap items in surplus of 28,000 kg.

Thereafter, on enquiring with delivery reporters at the depot, and other documents with contractor Kalimuthu, the authorities found that the weight of loaded lorries — as mentioned in depot documents — did not match with the weight of the items loaded on the ground.

The trucks were carrying 28,095 kg of extra scrap iron. The police believe that the contractor has been cheating the military station with the help of depot staff.

Complainant Rineej N had also requested the police to take necessary action against the offenders.

“Such incidents damage the image of Indian army, therefore you are requested to take strict action against culprits, including the people in the ordnance depot,” he stated in his complaint to the Avadi Tank Factory police.

Meanwhile, the police said that it is possible that the contractor had stolen tonnes of iron with the help of depot staff earlier as well. “It may not be the first time that he has done it. The military intelligence unit could have come to know about the clandestine modus operandi based on earlier instances and they decided to check the lorries based on certain inputs,” sources in the police said.