In a major theft, more than Rs. one million in cash were stolen early Monday morning from three separate safes located within the Inox multiplex here, police said.
According to a complaint registered with the Panaji town police station, nearly Rs.12.5 lakh (Rs.1.25 million), part of the collection made during the weekend, were stolen.
The multiplex is one of the main venues for the forthcoming 40th International Film Festival of India, which is expected to be visited by several dignitaries from Bollywood and political personalities.
The theft comes less than 24 hours after a high-level committee chaired by the chief secretary met at a government-run complex next to the multiplex to discuss the security measures which are to be put in place at the time of the glamourous event scheduled to begin on Nov 23.
"One of the security guards is missing since the incident occurred Monday morning," police Inspector Sandesh Chodankar told IANS Monday evening after a formal first information report (FIR) was registered by the multiplex authorities.