Colombo – The Pettah Police have launched an investigation into a controversial incident where excise officers allegedly removed over Rs. 100 million from two gold shops located in Hetti Veediya, Colombo.
The inquiry follows a formal complaint lodged on June 10 by one of the affected shop owners. According to the complaint, on the evening of June 5, a group of individuals identifying themselves as excise officers entered the complainant’s gold shop, along with a neighboring establishment.
The complainant reported that the officers took Rs. 102 million in total, while also detaining three employees from his own shop, two employees from the adjacent gold shop, and another individual. He further claimed that the officers removed the DVR unit of his CCTV system, which stored the shop’s surveillance footage.
Based on subsequent inquiries, it is believed that the employees were taken to the Excise Department office in Rajagiriya, according to information received from a friend of the shop owner. The friend, who visited the department, was allowed to speak to a senior official and facilitated a phone call between the complainant and an individual said to be an officer at the premises.
During the call, the complainant was allegedly informed that in order to secure the release of the detained employees, a portion of the seized money would need to be handed over. He also stated that the officer warned that failure to comply would result in drug-related charges being filed against the employees, and the funds being submitted as case evidence.
The complainant said he refused to agree to any such arrangement.
He later learned that two of the detained employees were released, while the remaining four were produced before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court and charged with possession of illicit cigarettes.
Furthermore, the complainant stated that Rs. 50 million was later returned to the neighboring shop owner by the excise officers, but that he himself is still owed Rs. 49,425,000, which he alleges was taken under duress.
In his police complaint, he has requested a full criminal investigation into the conduct of the officers involved and the recovery of the remaining funds.
The incident has raised serious concerns regarding accountability and transparency within the enforcement process
