Election flying squad personnel seized Rs.2.2 crore in Paruthipattu, Avadi on Saturday morning. Two persons in possession of the cash claimed that they were private security guards and the money was meant to be loaded in ATMs. However, they did not have any documents to substantiate their claims.
Police sources said the van carrying the cash was intercepted around 11.30 a.m. at the check post set up at Paruthipattu. A check by police personnel revealed the money in an iron box.
The two men, identified as Rakesh Kumar and Sathyaraj, were questioned by police and the election officials. “They claimed to be employees of a private security agency in Ashok Nagar working on contract for the State Bank of India and were carrying the money for the bank's ATMs,” said Murugan, a Sub-Inspector, Avadi police.
The duo said that they had earlier deposited Rs.14 lakh in an ATM in Porur and were heading to another ATM near the Avadi Tank Factory, he added.
As the men failed to produce the necessary documents, the flying squad, headed by a Deputy Tahsildar seized the money and deposited it in the treasury.