Gopalganj: In a significant operation, police in Gopalganj, Bihar, have seized 50 grams of Californium, one of the world’s most expensive and highly radioactive substances. The bust took place at the Balthri checkpost in the Kuchaykot police station area, leading to the arrest of three individuals involved in the smuggling operation.
Gopalganj Superintendent of Police, Swarn Prabhat, revealed that a Google search indicated the market price of Californium at Rs. 17 crore per gram, putting the total value of the seized substance at an estimated Rs. 850 crore. This rare material, which is banned for public sale in India, is primarily used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons, nuclear power generation, and in medical treatments, such as for brain cancer.
The arrested individuals include the main smuggler, Chhote Lal Prasad, a 40-year-old resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district, along with two accomplices, Chandan Gupta, aged 40, from Liner Nagar, and 28-year-old Chandan Ram from Mahmadpur. The police acted on a tip-off, swiftly forming a team to conduct the raid that led to the seizure.
Authorities are now investigating the authenticity of the substance, having contacted the Department of Atomic Energy and summoned a special team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for further analysis. The police are also probing the wider smuggling network, including any possible handlers and connections.
A lab report from IIT Madras, allegedly associated with the substance, was found during the raid, but upon contacting Professor S. Mohan of IIT Madras, it was confirmed that the certificate is a forgery. Further inquiries are ongoing as authorities attempt to uncover the full extent of the smuggling operation.
