Major BSP Iron Scrap Theft Busted: ₹3.22 Crore Worth Stolen Scrap Seized, 4 Arrested

Raipur

The Purani Bhilai police have uncovered a major iron scrap theft racket linked to the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) and arrested four accused involved in the organised operation. Police seized around 250 tonnes of stolen iron plates and beam cuttings, with the total haul valued at nearly ₹3.22 crore.

According to police, the stolen iron scrap had allegedly been hidden beneath heaps of flue dust for the past four to five months. During the operation, police also confiscated eight vehicles, including Hyva trucks, along with heavy machinery such as a JCB machine, Hydra crane, chain mounting machine, and iron dust-sieving machines used in the theft and transportation process.

Acting on a tip-off, the police raided AK Traders, HIA Hathkhoj Bhilai, where several commercial vehicles carrying stolen iron material were intercepted. Officers found trucks loaded with iron plate cuttings and beams mixed with flue dust in an apparent attempt to conceal the stolen material.

Police stated that the accused failed to produce valid documents related to the iron consignment and vehicles during verification. Following the investigation, a case was registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The arrested accused have been identified as Methen Thakur, Chintanand Sahu, Gitesh Verma, and Nirmal Singh. All four have been sent to judicial custody.

Considering the scale of the operation, the Durg SSP has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the Additional Superintendent of Police to further investigate the organised network behind the theft racket.