Poll code effect: Rs 10 lakh unaccounted money seized

PATIALA: Within 24 hours of imposition of election code in Punjab, a special flying squad of Patiala administration has seized over Rs 10 lakh in unaccounted money, including Rs 3.49 lakh from near Rajpura and Rs 5.25 lakh from Patiala.
As per directions of Election Commission of India, the team has handed over the seized amount to income tax authorities for further action.
Members of the special team, with help from Rajpura Sadar police, had intercepted a Zen car near Rajpura, driven by Tulsi Dass and coming from Gajju village to Rajpura.During search, Rs 3.49 lakh was seized, but when questioned about the source and destination of the amount, Dass failed to show any document.
"After preliminary investigations, Tulsi Dass failed to show any paper related to the amount. As per directions of ECI, we have handed over the amount to income tax authorities for further action," district electoral officer and deputy commissioner of Patiala, Vikas Garg, told TOI.
Elsewhere, Rs 5.25 lakh was recovered from the vehicle of Amrik Singh, a resident of Patiala, from the NIA Chowk in the city, which was also unaccounted for, an official said. Another Rs 2 lakh unaccounted money was recovered from the vehicle of a local petrol pump owner, Rakesh, he added.