Madurai police seize unaccounted cash

Armed Highway patrol police personnel checking vehicles plying on Madurai-Tirunelveli four-way near Tirumangalam on Wednesday. Photo: G. Moorthy

The Madurai District police seized cash from a few persons who were carrying it without proper accounts.

With the Election Commission of India’s model code of conduct coming into force from on Wednesday, flying squads comprising police and revenue officials have been formed all over the district to keep a check on movement of people, especially those affiliated to political parties.

On Wednesday, vehicle checks at check-posts in Tirumangalam, Samayanallur and other sub-divisions in the district revealed that the public were carrying cash without proper documents.

Superintendent of Police Vijayendra Bidari said they had booked eight to 10 cases and seized close to Rs.40 lakh. Earlier in the day, District Collector L. Subramanian said that persons carrying cash had to account for the money.

Deposited in treasury

In the absence of proper documents, the money will be deposited in the treasury for further legal action.

Though the large sums of cash seized by the police on Wednesday suggested that the persons carrying money had only borrowed it from private financiers or banks after pledging valuables, they could not furnish the acknowledgement issued by the moneylenders or banks on the spot.

“Probably, when they submit the documents, we may release the cash,” an officer at the Collectorate said.

Vigil

Following the seizure of money, the police stepped up vigil during night.