Salem: Over Rs 11 lakh, 5 kg silver seized in 2 western districts

Salem/ Namakkal: With poll authorities intensifying searches at check-posts and on highways, over Rs  11 lakh and silver articles weighing over five kg have been seized by revenue department and flying squad officials in Salem and Namakkal districts since Monday evening, official sources said on Tuesday.

While 18 flying squads have been pressed into operation in Namakkal district following the model code of conduct for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls coming into force, an accounted sum of Rs.2.62 lakh was seized from a car in a check by a flying squad contingent at Kondampattimedu on Sendhamangalam road. The cash was handed over to the Namakkal RDO.

In similar vehicle checks elsewhere in Namakkal and Salem districts, Rs.54,000 was seized from another person at Karavalli check-post. Checking another vehicle on Salem-Erode road, officials stumbled upon Rs. 3 lakh in another car, sources said. Near Shevvapet near Salem, Rs. 1.35 lakh was seized from a grocery stores owner who did not carry required documents to account for the cash.  Another Rs. one lakh was seized from a car near Karuppur, even as nearly Rs.2.89 lakh was seized from another vehicle near Gengavalli from a person from Perambalur.

In two other vehicle checks at different places, silver articles weighing three kg were seized from a person from Shevapet in Salem. In the second such seizure, silver articles weighing 2.44 kg were seized from a person from Chennai during a vehicle check near Tiruchengode, sources added.