Hyderabad: Officials from the Static Surveillance department of the Income Tax Department, conducted surprise checks all over Hyderabad, and have seized crores in unaccounted cash, under the supervision of the Election Commission.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, officials of the Income Tax department said that the guidelines stipulate that cash over Rs 10 lakh should be seized and handed over to the IT Department for verification of the source.
Those carrying smaller amounts are asked for bank withdrawal receipts, message alerts on phone or other documents, and released on the spot.
With elections next month, and the known circulation of illegal money in an Indian election, the searches of vehicles are to seize the money being transported. The rules say not more than Rs 2 lakh can be carried by any person during this time, said ACP Goshamahal, M. Narender Reddy.
“The Station House Officers are empowered to release amounts in case of medical emergencies and for other immediate purposes, provided they show the proofs,” he said.
“The vehicle checking is organised in the evening, as generally, businessmen and private employees carry cash and if they show us proof of the source of money, we do a quick check and release the money,” he said.
Earlier last week, the police in poll-bound Telangana seized Rs 10 crore cash from a car near Pipparwada toll plaza in Adilabad district.
“Several wads of currency notes, all in 500-rupee denomination were recovered from the vehicle which was coming from Nagpur in Maharashtra and headed to Hyderabad. The car was registered in Karnataka,” a police official said.
“Police detained two persons travelling in the car,” the official added. Telangana will go to the polls on December 7 as the state assembly was dissolved before it completed its full term on September 6.
The counting of votes and results will be announced on December 11.
