A joint team of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) Crime Branch and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 1.242 kg of suspected foreign-origin gold, estimated to be worth around ₹2 crore, from the Howrah-Mumbai Duronto Express.

Two men were arrested during the operation, which was conducted amid heightened security arrangements ahead of Independence Day. The seized consignment included seven gold biscuits and one gold bar.

Joint Operation on Duronto Express

The action followed information received by an inspector of the RPF Crime Branch in Nagpur regarding two passengers allegedly travelling with a gold consignment on train number 12262, Howrah-Mumbai Duronto Express.

Following the information, teams from the RPF Crime Branch in Raipur and Nagpur, along with officials from DRI Nagpur, launched a joint operation.

The teams began checking the train while it was travelling between Raipur and Nagpur.

Suspects Held Between Bhandara and Nagpur

During the search, officials identified two suspects, Suresh Kumar and Dhairyashil, in coach B-12.

The two were intercepted between Bhandara and Nagpur. A search of their belongings led to the recovery of seven gold biscuits and one gold bar.

The total weight of the seized gold was approximately 1.242 kg. Preliminary investigation identified it as foreign-origin gold, according to officials.

The two suspects were subsequently handed over to DRI Nagpur for further investigation.

Case Registered Under Customs Act

DRI Nagpur has registered a case against the two accused under Section 135 of the Customs Act, 1962.

Officials are questioning the suspects to determine the origin of the gold and the intended recipient of the consignment. Investigators are also examining whether the two men were part of a larger smuggling network.

The process of producing the accused before a court is also underway.

Probe Into Gold Smuggling Network

Investigators are now attempting to establish how the gold entered the country, who arranged the shipment and where it was supposed to be delivered.

The agency is also looking into the possible involvement of other individuals connected with the consignment.

Officials suspect that the seized gold may be part of a broader network that transports smaller consignments through railway routes to different parts of the country.

Dubai Route Under Scanner

According to information from the DRI, smuggled gold can enter India through routes involving Dubai, Bangladesh and Nepal, before reaching West Bengal.

From there, smaller consignments may be moved by train towards major commercial centres such as Mumbai, Surat and Ahmedabad.

Investigators are examining whether the seized consignment was connected to any such route.

The seizure comes at a time when security agencies have stepped up surveillance and checks across transport hubs ahead of Independence Day on August 15.

South East Central Railway reverses June 7–19 cancellations after non-interlocking work at Champa station is deferred; passengers across MP, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Bengal get relief.

Sudden Reversal Brings Relief

Passengers travelling across some of India's busiest inter-state rail corridors got an unexpected reprieve on Monday after South East Central Railway (SECR), Bilaspur zone, announced that all 86 trains cancelled between June 7 and 19 would now run as per their original schedule. The decision came after the railway administration chose to postpone — until further orders — the fourth-line non-interlocking work at Champa station that had triggered the mass cancellations.

Of the 86 trains restored, 76 are express services and 10 are passenger trains operating under the Bilaspur division.

Why the Trains Were Cancelled

The original cancellations had been announced to facilitate non-interlocking work — a complex railway signalling and track-switching operation — for the fourth rail line project at Champa station in Chhattisgarh. Such work typically requires a complete shutdown of train movement through the affected section for days at a stretch. The June 7–19 window had been earmarked for the job, affecting dozens of services across the SECR network.

The ripple effect was significant. Passengers from West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and several other states had begun scrambling for alternatives after the earlier cancellation announcement. The SECR corridor serves as a critical spine connecting major metros like Mumbai and Kolkata to central and eastern India.

Diverted Trains Return to Original Routes

Beyond the restored cancellations, the railway administration confirmed that several trains whose routes had been altered due to the planned work would also revert to their original paths. The diverted services include the Howrah–Pune Duronto Express, Pune–Howrah Duronto Express, CSMT–Howrah Duronto Express, Howrah–CSMT Duronto Express, LTT–Shalimar Gyaneshwari Express, Shalimar–LTT Gyaneshwari Express, Bhubaneswar–LTT Express, and LTT–Bhubaneswar Express. All these trains will now operate via their scheduled routes without any change.

Five Delayed Trains Back on Time

Five trains that had earlier been notified to run with a delay will now depart at their original timings. These include the 12129 Pune–Howrah Azad Hind Express, 12809 CSMT–Howrah Mail, 12070 Gondia–Raigarh Jan Shatabdi Express, the 18249/18251 Raipur–Korba Hasdeo Express, and the 18239 Korba–Itwari Shivnath Express. Passengers who had adjusted their travel plans in anticipation of the delays should double-check departure timings before heading to the station.

Passengers Advised to Verify Schedules

Despite the good news, railway authorities have urged travellers not to take the restored services for granted. Local authorities confirmed that conditions for the fourth-line work at Champa remain in place and a fresh date will likely be announced in due course. Passengers have been advised to check their train's current status on the official Indian Railways website or through the enquiry helpline — 139 — before travelling.

Large-Scale Project Still Pending

The postponement offers only temporary relief. The Champa fourth-line project is part of a broader capacity expansion drive by the railways in Chhattisgarh, and the non-interlocking work will need to be completed at some point. When the new date is finalised, a similar round of cancellations and route diversions is likely. For now, however, passengers across nearly a dozen states can plan their June travel without disruption.