Hyderabad: As expected, the Hyderabad police released the Rs 8 crore cash, belonging to the BJP, which it had seized on April 8. The cash was lying in the Narayanguda police station after the income-tax authorities cited “lack of space” as the reason for not accepting it, and the car in which the money was being transported.
Two days ago, the I-T department washed its hands off the Rs 8 crore after it gave a clean chit to the saffron party, saying “there is no income-tax angle” to the whole affair. Sources said that on Friday the I-T department wrote another letter to the Hyderabad police saying that since the money was accounted for by the BJP, it can be released immediately.
“The persons from whom the cash was seized came to the Narayanguda police station and took the cash,” Central Zone DCP P. Vishwaprasad told Deccan Chronicle.
Though the police had said that it would take legal opinion before proceeding further, it appears that the green signal given by the income-tax department came in handy for the policemen to release the money.
BJP Rs 8 crore seized money was accounted for
Officials said that that transporting Rs 8 crore just days before polling could amount to violation of model code of conduct.
They submitted a report to Chief Electoral officer Rajat Kumar on the seizure.
“Once the I-T department had said there is no objection to the money being released, there is nothing more to it. Moreover, the money was accounted for,” one police official said.
Sources said that ever since the seizure there was pressure on the I-T department to release the cash.
The money was seized by the Central Zone Commissioner Task Force on April 8 while it was being transported in a car. The money was withdrawn from the Indian Bank’s Narayanguda branch.
