Cash estimated to be valued at a few crores was stolen from the parcel van of the Salem-Chennai Express.The thieves, sources said, had drilled a hole measuring two feet to enter or exit the parcel van. The parcels contained soiled currency notes and were being brought to the city by Reserve Bank of India to be destroyed.
The robbery came to light around 11 am when workers entered one of the Railway parcel vans that were shunted into the parcel siding at Chennai Egmore railway station.Railway sources said the rake of the Salem-Chennai Express (No.11604) had 19 coaches including the three parcel vans in which an estimated Rs. 325 crore was being transported in 225 wooden boxes. Sources said the thieves had taken cash from three boxes.
After reaching Egmore, the rake was taken to the yard and the parcel van coaches were brought to the parcel siding — located near the vehicle parking lot.The hole in the roof of the parcel van was big enough for an adult to squeeze through it and enter or exit the coach easily. It is still not known if the robbery had taken place during transit or while it was parked at any of stations on the route or in the yard at Salem or Chennai.
Though the robbery was noticed in the morning it was not until around 4 p.m that Forensic experts reached the spot to pick up clues. Though there were policemen on escort duty, they were stationed in the coach next to the parcel van from which the cash was robbed.
