Cops submitting seized cash to courts, not I-T department

Hyderabad: The police on Thursday said that not all cash seizures being made in the city pertained to the upcoming Assembly polls, citing seizures amounting to over Rs 165 crore, due to which the cash was not being handed to the income tax department, but instead to courts after registering a case.

During the 2018 elections, over Rs 100 crore cash was seized, of which 80 per cent was returned after respondents intimated the I-T department through courts. The rest allegedly paid a penalty to get a portion of their money back.

A senior police officer associated with a team monitoring cash seizures said that the police seize the cash and register a case in respective police limits. Later, they would hand over the cash to court.

“If the I-T officials approach the court, the court will give details based on a petition. Otherwise, the respondents will claim the cash by submitting their I-T returns (ITRs), showing profits in respective business,” the senior police officer said.

Generally, the I-T department only files a petition seeking details into large seizures, running into crores of rupees. In such cases, respondents pay penalties.

M. Padmanabha Reddy, secretary of the social group, Forum for Good Governance, said that data on seized cash in previous elections revealed that 90 per cent of cash was returned to genuine owners after elections.

The police assured that they would hand over the seized cash to revenue officers and courts.

 Seizures in last polls

Adilabad: Rs 11,37,71,380 seized; Rs 10 crore deposited in court in one case, collected later by I-T department.

Bhadradri: Rs 65,65,330 seized in 56 instances, 16 cases filed, money in 40 cases returned.

Gadwal: Gold worth Rs 1,31,21,700 seized; released after inquiry.

Medak: Rs 1,04,81,177 seized in 41 cases, cash returned in 37 cases. Three cases of Rs 71,527 filed.

Sircilla: Rs 2,88,91,920 seized, returned after verification.

Sangareddy: Rs 1,34,21,830 seized, 29 cases booked, handed over to I-T department.

Chiragpally: Gold ornaments worth Rs 1,13,79,795 seized, no case booked, ornaments released.

Jangaon: Rs 5,80,65,000 seized by ED, accused confess money was secured through money laundering from shell companies. Rs 1.5 crore was to be handed over to Nama Nageswara Rao, Rs 2 crore to Vaddiraju Ravi Chandra, Rs 2.3 crores to Konda Murali, as per claims. Money laundering case filed.
Cyberabad: Rs 2 crore seized from TD’s Maganti Murali Mohan; I-T department probing case.

Hyderabad: Rs 12 lakh seized by Sultan Bazaar police, case registered over transportation to Jagtial for alleged distribution to voters.

Cyberabad: Rs 24,24,200 seized in 12 instances, one case booked pertaining to Rs 43,900.

Rachakonda: Three cases of code violation booked, prosecuted in court and let off with nominal fines.