Nagpur: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of South East Central Railway’s Nagpur Division has seized gold and silver worth ₹3.37 crore from a passenger travelling on the Bilaspur–Itwari Intercity Express (Train No. 12855). The seizure comes just ahead of the festive season and has prompted a probe by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

The operation, conducted under the supervision of RPF Commandant Deepchandra Arya, was carried out by a task team comprising ASI K. K. Nikode and jawan V. K. Kushwaha. During a surprise inspection between Amgaon and Gondia on October 11, the team found a suspicious passenger in Sleeper Coach S-6 carrying heavy bags.

The man, identified as Naresh Tekchand Panjwani (55), a resident of Srinagar near Bamba Bhavan, Gondia, was detained and handed over to RPF CIB Nagpur Inspector Kulwant Singh and RPF Gondia Inspector N. P. Pandey.

On checking his luggage under CCTV surveillance and in the presence of witnesses, officials found 2.683 kg of gold (biscuits, bars, ornaments) valued at ₹3.27 crore and 7.440 kg of silver jewellery worth ₹10.47 lakh — a total of ₹3,37,84,500.

The RPF immediately informed the DRI’s Nagpur Regional Unit, which took over custody of both the seized valuables and the accused for further investigation. Authorities are now probing possible links to smuggling or tax evasion networks.