Salem: Though there are no bypolls scheduled in Salem district for Sunday, an election flying squad team seized Rs 49 lakh cash being carried without proper documents from a car at Shevapet area in the wee hours of Saturday.
Official sources told DC that surprise checks by the election flying squad continued as the Lok Sabha model code of conduct will be in force till May 27.
When they stopped and searched a car on suspicion, the squad found wands of currency notes piled up in cardboard boxes beneath clothing, totaling Rs 49 lakh. The driver of the car Mahendra Kumar was, however, not carrying proper documents to account for the cash, sources said.
When questioned, Mahendra Kumar said he was doing wholesale business in tea dust and was on his way to Tirupati for business purposes. But unconvinced by his reply, officials seized the cash and deposited it in the Salem district treasury promptly.
The authorities said Mahendra Kumar can take back his cash after adducing proper documents for the same. The Income Tax department has also been informed about the seizure, sources added.
