Gaya Gold Robbery: Five Months Later, Four GRP Constables Remain at Large
In a case that has raised serious questions about police integrity, four Government Railway Police (GRP) constables allegedly involved in the robbery of nearly one kilogram of gold from a train passenger remain absconding even five months after the crime. The GRP authorities have stated that investigations are progressing seriously, with ongoing raids aimed at recovering the stolen gold and apprehending the accused individuals.
Denial of Cover-Up Allegations
Responding to allegations that there has been an attempt to cover up the case to protect the accused policemen, GRP Superintendent of Police Anant Kumar Rai firmly denied these claims. He confirmed to reporters that departmental proceedings have been formally initiated against the GRP personnel implicated in this high-profile gold loot case, signaling administrative action alongside criminal investigation.
Details of the November 2025 Robbery
The robbery occurred on November 21, 2025, when Dhanjay Shaswat, an employee working for gold dealer Manoj Soni, was traveling in the general compartment of the Howrah–Jodhpur Superfast Express between Koderma in Jharkhand and Gaya. Investigators confirmed that Shaswat was carrying approximately one kilogram of gold, which was looted with the direct involvement of GRP personnel according to evidence gathered during the probe.
More than a week after the incident, an FIR was finally registered following intervention by Khagaria MP Rajesh Verma and based on the complaint filed by Gaya GRP Station House Officer Rajesh Kumar Singh. During the subsequent investigation, the railway Deputy Superintendent of Police uncovered substantial evidence pointing directly to the SHO and four constables, all of whom were subsequently named as accused in the case. The SHO was later arrested and placed under suspension pending further legal proceedings.
Legal Framework and Investigation Developments
Based on the DSP's comprehensive report, additional sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita were added to the case, including sections 308, 351, 281, 197, and 107. Furthermore, sections 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act were also incorporated into the charges, reflecting the serious nature of the allegations against police personnel.
The initial investigating officer, Virendra Prasad, was found to have played a questionable role in the investigation and was subsequently suspended. The probe was then transferred to a specially constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure impartiality and thorough examination of all evidence.
SIT Findings and Legal Proceedings
The SIT investigation revealed that eight individuals were involved in the robbery scheme, including five policemen. Gold dealer Mohit Kumar was arrested following partial recovery of the looted gold, which investigators discovered had been cut into pieces at the business premises of another accused individual named Perwez, who later surrendered in court.
In a significant legal development, the anticipatory bail pleas filed by the four absconding constables were rejected by the Gaya district court, clearing the way for their arrest once located by authorities. The GRP continues to maintain that raids are actively underway to recover the remaining 950-plus grams of stolen gold and apprehend all remaining accused individuals.
This case continues to unfold as a test of police accountability and the effectiveness of internal mechanisms for addressing misconduct within law enforcement agencies. The departmental proceedings initiated against the accused GRP personnel represent one aspect of the multi-pronged response to this serious breach of public trust.
