Hyderabad cops seize Rs 90.5 lakh unaccounted cash

Hyderabad: Two days after the Model Code of Conduct came into effect across the country, the Hyderabad City Task Force Police seized Rs 90.5 lakh unaccounted cash from four persons in Kacheguda and Sultan Bazar areas on Tuesday. The police suspects that the accused could be using the cash for hawala transactions. This is the first catch of unaccounted cash in the country after the elections were declared.

The police seized a jacket from the accused, which has pockets to carry several bundles of currency notes. The seized cash was later handed over to the Income Tax department for further probe.

Hyderabad City Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said the task force (East zone) received a tip off about the cash being carried by four persons in Begum Bazar and Sultan Bazar areas. The teams conducted vehicle checking simultaneously, and four persons were apprehended carrying the cash without supporting documents.

Devesh Kothari, 43, was carrying `50 lakh in his scooter (Activa), Bhakti Prajapati, 33, was carrying `23 lakh in his scooter, Khan Bilal Naseem, 27, was carrying `5.7  lakh and Vishal Jain, 24, was found in possession of `11.8 lakh cash. The police has also seized three cash counting machines which were in possession of the accused in the scooters.

“The four persons failed to furnish any document related to the cash that they were carrying. As the Model Code of Conduct is in effect for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, possession of unaccounted cash above `50,000 is a violation. In this case, it is suspected that the cash was being used for hawala transactions,” said Mr Anjani Kumar.

When asked if the cash was related to any political party in the state, the commissioner said, “It is too early to come to a conclusion on it. The suspects need to be questioned, and the IT department will carry out the further investigation.”