COIMBATORE: Twenty staff members of State Bank of India counted the huge pile of bundles of currency kept in three containers for six-and-a -half hours on Wednesday. After counting, officials confirmed that the cash totalled Rs 570 crore.
“ We have confirmed after counting that the cash totals Rs.570 crore. The money will be despatched to Reserve Bank of India later. Until then, it will be in the custody of the Election Commission at SBI office in Coimbatore,” said a senior election official here.
In a sensational seizure on the eve of the Assembly election, the election surveillance squad seized the huge tranche of cash transported in three container trucks. The “highest ever seizure” caused quite a stir in the state as speculation was rife that it was money meant for distribution to voters. However, the bank claimed that the cash was its legitimate money being transported from Coimbatore to Visakhapatnam.
Not convinced, election officials detained the three containers at Tirupur collectorate till the polling was over on Monday. On Tuesday morning, the containers were brought to SBI office near the Collectorate and kept in the custody of Election Commission. On Wednesday, the counting started around 11 a.m in the presence of Tirupur district election observer Yashpal, Coimbatore observer Jothi Kailash, Income tax joint director Senthil Kumar and ended at 5.30 p.m.
While the first container had 60 boxes of cash of varying denominations, there were 65 boxes in the second lorry and 70 boxes in the third. A report has been sent to chief electoral officer Rajesh Lakhoni.
