Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh), Oct 14 (NationPress) - In a shocking breach of trust that has sent ripples through the local law enforcement community, a senior head constable at the Kotwali police station in Balaghat district is accused of squandering Rs 55 lakh in confiscated cash and gold and silver jewellery worth approximately Rs 10 lakh through compulsive gambling.

The accused, Head Constable Rajiv Pandre, who had the responsibility of safeguarding the Malkhana (storeroom), has been charged under an FIR following this alarming incident, which nearly ended in tragedy when he attempted to end his life upon being discovered, although he was rescued in time.

An ongoing investigation has revealed that police managed to recover Rs 40 lakh from him, and an FIR has been filed against Pandre, as confirmed by a senior officer at the Kotwali police station.

The revelation came to light on Monday when the original complainant—a woman duped in a financial scam—returned to the station equipped with a court order to reclaim her confiscated assets.

Months earlier, during a significant fraud bust, Kotwali police had seized cash and jewellery from the offenders and stored them in the storeroom for evidentiary purposes. According to standard procedures, these items were meant to be securely kept in the Malkhana until the judicial process concluded.

When Town Inspector (TI) Vijay Uikey instructed Pandre to return the valuables, the 42-year-old officer's demeanor crumbled. In a panic-filled moment captured on station CCTV, Pandre rushed to the Malkhana, barricaded himself by locking the heavy iron gate, and attempted to hang himself from the ceiling fan using his uniform belt.

Alerted by his distress and the ensuing chaos, fellow officers rushed to his aid. They managed to break down the door just in time, rescuing him and providing first aid before transporting him to Balaghat District Hospital, where he is currently stable and under observation.

Interestingly, counselors from the Madhya Pradesh Police Welfare Bureau have been dispatched to offer him support.

Initial investigations led by the Superintendent of Police have unveiled a troubling pattern of addiction that drove this criminal behavior.

Sources within the police indicated that Pandre, a 15-year veteran from Seoni district, had developed a severe gambling addiction over the past two years.

During his off-duty hours, he would often escape to high-stakes gambling dens in neighboring Gondia, Maharashtra, known for illicit matka and card games, as well as Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, where underground gambling rings flourish despite regular crackdowns. He reportedly borrowed money from colleagues, sold personal belongings, and even pawned family jewellery to cover his losses, according to anonymous sources who worked with him.

The Malkhana became his final refuge; he began siphoning small amounts months ago, convincing himself he would recover his losses, as per sources.

Forensic audits of the Malkhana logs, cross-referenced with transaction records from local jewellers and gambling informants, confirm that the theft began discreetly in June 2025, escalating as Pandre's debts grew. The total loss—Rs 5.5 lakh in crisp Rs 500 notes bundled in evidence bags, along with ornate gold chains, silver bangles, and rings appraised at Rs 10 lakh—stands as one of the most significant internal embezzlements in the history of the Madhya Pradesh Police.

No external involvement has been identified thus far, but a special inquiry team from Bhopal headquarters has been dispatched to investigate possible accomplices, including gambling operators who may have drawn Pandre deeper into addiction. The victim of the scam expressed her shock outside the station.

"I trusted the police to safeguard what little I had left after those fraudsters devastated me. Now, even the guardians have turned into thieves," she told reporters.

Balaghat, already burdened by its status as a Left-Wing Extremism hotspot with ongoing Naxal operations in the surrounding forests, now faces this internal scandal.