Fake Silver In Memento For Retired Railway Employees Triggers Probe

What was meant to be a proud memento for retired railway employees has turned into a bitter betrayal in Bhopal. Former staff of the West Central Railway were left shocked after jewellers found that the gold-plated silver coins given to them were mostly made of copper, containing only a small amount of silver. The issue came to light when some retirees tried to sell the coins amid high silver prices, only to discover they were virtually worthless. A vigilance inquiry revealed that the coins were supplied by an Indore-based firm following an order placed in January 2023 for 3,640 gold-plated silver coins. Of these, 3,631 were delivered to the railway’s general store in Bhopal, with a suspected loss of nearly ₹2,500 per coin. The matter has now drawn police attention, raising serious questions over procurement procedures and quality checks within the railways. Retired employees say they feel cheated and deeply insulted, calling for strict action against those responsible.