2013,January,Smuggling suspected at Steel Plant as truck carrying 60 tonnes of steel was seized

2013,January,Smuggling suspected at Steel Plant as truck carrying 60 tonnes of steel was seized

The CISF personnel at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant seized a truck near BC gate of the plant carrying over 60 tonnes of steel. The truck was abandoned and wasn't carrying any valid documents. Suspicions of a major racket involving smuggling of finished products from the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant were raised when CISF personnel seized the truck-sleeper. The truck was said to be brand new and was allegedly carrying around 60 to 80 tonnes of 20 mm round, 16 and 32 mm re-bars. The weighting of the material is yet to be done. The driver and the cleaner of the lorry were missing and the vehicle has no documents.

According to CISF VSP unit Commandant Digvijay Singh, the lorry came to the Steel Plant for unloading some goods on the premises. It later proceeded for internal shifting of material. The surveillance team found the lorry abandoned for a long time and has seized it. The lorry was also having a fake number sticker. The lorry was said to be carrying three types of material, whereas a vehicle should carry only one type of particular material according to the rules, which raised the suspicion of smuggling. It has material worth over Rs. 50 lakh.

The incident created a sensation as there were allegations of regular smuggling since some time. The Visakha Steel Employees' Union honorary president Padi Trinadha Rao and Visakha Steel Employees' Congress deputy general secretary Neerukonda Ramachandra Rao demanded an immediate CBI probe on the issue.