Gold bars weighing 7.2 kg, estimated to be valued at around ₹11.16 crore, were recovered from a Maoist hideout in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur on March 31. The recovery was made during a search operation following specific intelligence inputs about the hideout.
Surrendered Maoists told investigators that after Maoist Rupesh's surrender, a substantial quantity of cash and gold was moved to Bijapur for insurgent commander Paparao. Police subsequently questioned more Maoists for nearly 10 days before busting the hideout.
Police said the authenticity, purity, and origin of the gold was being verified. The Swiss markings on the bars have raised suspicions, with officials questioning the origin of the gold.
The funds gathered through illegal levies on contractors and villagers were kept at the hideout. An intelligence officer said that more such hideouts are believed to be in the jungles, and locating them will take time.
This is not the first time gold has been recovered from a Maoist hideout in Bijapur. On March 11, around 1 kg of gold was recovered from another hideout in the area.
