Ahead of elections, Odisha police seize Rs 55 lakh cash in Sonepur

BHUBANESWAR: Inspection of vehicles at checkpoints ahead of elections led to the seizure of Rs 55 lakh from a car in Sonepur district on Friday evening, police sources said on Saturday. The income tax department has started an investigation to verify the source of cash.

“Our personnel intercepted an SUV near Binika for checking. Around Rs 55 lakh was found inside the car, which was going from Binika towards Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. We immediately informed the I-T department and handed over the seized cash to them,” Sonepur SP Yashpratap Shrimal told TOI.

Sources said this is so far the highest cash haul in a single operation in the run-up to the simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha polls in the state.

In a related development, the transport department along with other enforcement agencies, including the GST wing, Enforcement Directorate and I-T department, have stepped up their crackdown to prevent distribution of illegal freebies during elections.

We have inspected more than 25,610 vehicles at over 142 locations in Odisha, resulting in seizures of illicit liquor, ganja, cash, saris, gas stoves, automobile parts and shoes worth over Rs 27 crore between Mar 22 and Apr 5. On Saturday, Rs 2 lakh was seized from a vehicle in Jagatsinghpur district, a transport official said




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