A jeweller in Sasaram has accused police of harassing his three brothers and pilfering over 85kg of silver ornaments, prompting a senior cop to order a detailed probe.

A delegation of businessmen in Sasaram met deputy inspector-general, Shahabad range, Mohammad Rahman on Saturday and complained that Sasaram Town police station officers arrested three jeweller brothers on a false pretext and seized from them 151kg of silver ornaments worth Rs 28 lakh and Rs 80,000 in cash, on May 27. When the three persons were produced in court the next day, the officers presented a seizure list of just 65kg of silver ornaments, said petitioner Dharmendra Kumar, the brother of the jewellers. The three brothers are since then in judicial custody.

Rahman directed Rohtas superintendent of police Shivdeep Lande to conduct a detailed investigation. "I have asked the SP to find out the truth and take necessary action against the cops," he said.

Dharmendra, from Mubarakganj, around 150km west of Patna, said his brothers Jitendra Kumar, Pintu Kumar and Gopal Kumar were intercepted by the police on May 27 at Sasaram railway junction and taken to the Town police station. "They were locked in the police lock-up and sent to jail on May 28, a day after they were taken into custody with 151kg of silver ornaments worth over Rs 28 lakh," he said.

"Documents related to purchase of the ornaments from Agra's Pratap Nagar were also produced before the police but they were ignored," he added.

Rahman said: "The allegations need an in-depth probe."