Unaccounted cash of around Rs 1.45 crore seized from eight persons in central Calcutta

Police said the accused had been detained as they could not produce documents for the money they were carrying

Some of the seized cash.: Telegraph picture

Special Correspondent   |  TT  |  Calcutta   |   28.04.21 :  Allegedly unaccounted for cash totalling around Rs 1.45 crore was seized from eight persons at different locations in central Calcutta on Tuesday, 48 hours before the pockets are to go to the polls.

Police said the eight persons had been detained as they could not produce documents for the money they were carrying or explain the source and purpose of the cash.

The spots where the money was seized are in the Chowringhee and Jorasanko Assembly constituencies, which will vote in the last phase of the Assembly elections on April 29.

The police said a total of Rs 75 lakh was seized from five persons in the Muchipara, Jorasanko and Burrabazar areas.

“Four of the five persons were carrying the money in bags. The fifth had kept the currency notes hidden in undergarment. They were intercepted during pre-election drives and checkings on roads,” a senior officer at Lalbazar said.

Another police team intercepted a man and seized Rs 40 lakh from him in Posta. Another Rs 30 lakh was seized from two persons at the Moulali crossing.

“In none of the cases, the accused could give a satisfactory reply on the source and destination of the cash. We have alerted the income tax department,” said an officer at Lalbazar.

According to the election rules, anyone carrying Rs 50,000 or more should be in a position to explain with documents the source and destination of the money to the police and the income tax department.

If the person fails to give any satisfactory explanation, the money is seized and handed over to the income tax department, which will start a probe in the matter.

“If someone comes to claim the money with documents, he or she has to pay income tax on the seized cash and then claim the remaining amount,” said an IT official.

A senior police officer said the amount seized on Tuesday was the highest in the run up to the elections.

In none of the cases, the police said, it was possible to ascertain which politician or political party was going to benefit from the cash.

“In almost all cases, hawala operators or people who are not known or related to the source or destination of the money are engaged to transport the cash. That ensures that if couriers are caught, the real culprits will remain behind the scene,” said a senior police officer.