It was then that the issue of the missing ornaments surfaced.
During this period, monkeys allegedly scattered the bundles, resulting in the disappearance of the gold ornaments.
It observed that gold ornaments could not be destroyed by rainwater and questioned how valuable case property stored in sealed packets could have gone missing in such circumstances.
Court subsequently directed registration of a criminal case and ordered an investigation into the missing jewellery.
Police have since submitted a final report in the case, stating that criminal proceedings cannot continue against deceased persons.
A year after a Lakhimpur Kheri court ordered a probe into the disappearance of gold jewellery worth over ₹1 crore from a police malkhana and rejected the Uttar Pradesh Police's claim that monkeys had carried away the valuables, investigators have filed a final report, attributing responsibility to two former malkhana in-charges who died before the probe could be completed.
The jewellery had been deposited in the malkhana of Sadar Kotwali police station in 2007 after it was recovered during the post-mortem examination of a woman who died by suicide. The ornaments, including gold bangles, a chain, a ring and a nose pin, were preserved as case property in connection with a dowry death case registered against the woman's husband and his family members.
The criminal proceedings remained pending for nearly 17 years before the local court acquitted all the accused in February 2024, citing lack of evidence. Following the acquittal, the woman's husband moved an application seeking release of the jewellery that had remained in police custody throughout the trial.
It was then that the issue of the missing ornaments surfaced.
According to the explanation furnished by police, some old malkhana records and bundles had been damaged due to rain and were placed on the roof of the police station for drying. During this period, monkeys allegedly scattered the bundles, resulting in the disappearance of the gold ornaments.
Court, however, was unconvinced by the explanation. It observed that gold ornaments could not be destroyed by rainwater and questioned how valuable case property stored in sealed packets could have gone missing in such circumstances. Court also raised concerns over the manner in which the property had been handled while in police custody.
Finding the explanation implausible, court noted that there was prima facie material indicating possible misappropriation of the jewellery by those entrusted with maintaining the malkhana. It further observed that false entries may have been made in official records to conceal the disappearance of the valuables.
Court subsequently directed registration of a criminal case and ordered an investigation into the missing jewellery. It also directed that compensation be paid to the claimant for the loss of the ornaments.
An FIR was thereafter lodged and a probe initiated. During the investigation, police reportedly concluded that the jewellery had gone missing during the tenure of two former head constables who were in charge of the malkhana at the relevant time.
However, both officials had died before the investigation could be completed. Police have since submitted a final report in the case, stating that criminal proceedings cannot continue against deceased persons.
Despite the court's directions, the claimant's family has alleged that compensation has not yet been paid. The family has reportedly approached authorities seeking enforcement of the court's order.
