Police on Wednesday exposed two iron factories based in Gudhiyari and Urla area involved in making substandard TMT bars with duplicate mark of SAIl stamped on them. About 700 tonnes of duplicate TMT bars worth Rs2 crore were seized from the factory, police claimed.
Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Dr lal Umed Singh talking with The Pioneer informed that raids were conducted in Pankaj Ispat Pvt ltd Gogaon and Alankar Alloys Borjhara Road Guma. They were illegally using the SAIl mark on the sub standard TMT bars and supplied them in the market. “About 700 tons of TMT bars ware seized from the factory and police have arrested one of the manger of the factory however the factory owners are at large,” said ASP.
Replying to the query about involvement of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case, he said “CBI has secretly investigated the matter and provided the clues to Raipur police and based on those clues raid was conducted.” The ASP further said that officers of SAIl were also involved in the raid.
Police said that about 200 to 250 tons of duplicate iron TMT bars was seize from Pankaj Ispat Pvt ltd Gudhiyari while 200 tons of TMT bar was found at Alankar Alloys Urla.
According to police SAIl officers were continuously receiving complaints about duplicate iron bars being supplied in the market. On Tuesday two SAIl engineers Narendra Kumar and S Ramchandarn reached Raipur and reported the matter to police. Narendra Kumar has lodged a report with Gudhiyari police. While, S Ramachandarn has registered complaint with Urla police station.
Accordingly the team raided both the factories and made the seizure. Police have registered cases against Pankaj Agrawal of Pankaj Ispat pvt ltd and lalit Agrawal of Alankar Alloys under Sections 420, 465, 468, 473, 475, 485 and 486 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) which reads to cheating, forgery, forgery for purpose of cheating,making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable otherwise, counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents, making or possession of any instrument for counterfeiting a property mark and selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark.