Family awaits compensation after 'monkeys steal, rain melts' ₹1cr-worth gold
What's the story
A year after an FIR was lodged in the strange Lakhimpur Kheri malkhana case, a family is still waiting for compensation. The case involves gold jewelry worth around ₹1 crore, which police claimed was damaged by rain and later scattered by monkeys. The claimants are yet to receive any payout despite repeated appeals to senior officials and filing applications under the Right to Information Act.
Case history
Case details
The case dates back to Diwali night in 2007 when Rani Agarwal alias Julie died by suicide. During the post-mortem examination, doctors removed her jewelry, including a gold ring, nose pin, 10 bangles and a necklace. They were handed over to police and deposited as case property at Sadar Kotwali malkhana. However, her family later filed a dowry death case against her husband Mudit and his family. They were arrested and sent to jail.
Case
Malkhana bundles had been kept on roof for drying
In 2024, after a trial that went on for 17 years, all the accused were acquitted due to a lack of evidence. After the acquittal on February 28, 2024, her husband sought the release of the jewelry, only to be told that it had disappeared. Police claimed that malkhana bundles had been kept on the roof for drying when the rain "damaged the jewelry" and then were scattered by monkeys.
Legal scrutiny
Court's direction for compensation
The district court rejected the police's explanation as unbelievable, noting that gold ornaments couldn't be destroyed by rain. The court directed an inquiry into possible wrongdoing by police personnel and sought compensation for the loss of jewelry. However, despite these directions, the family has not received any compensation or justice so far.
Case closure
Police close case, citing death of 2 officials
The Uttar Pradesh Police have now closed the case, saying the two officials who were head moharrirs during the relevant period between 2007 and 2009 have died. "As no criminal proceedings can be initiated against deceased persons, the case has been concluded in accordance with legal provisions and a final report has been submitted before the court," Kheri SP Khyati Garg told TOI. Mudit is now preparing to move the Allahabad high court.