Cash of Rs 9. 2 lakh was seized in two separate cases in Rourkela by the Static Flying Squad (SFS), formed in connection with the elections, on Wednesday night.
While Rs 6 lakh was seized from a car at Ambagan Chhak in the city, Rs 3.20 lakh was seized from another car on the Kuarmunda-Birmitrapur road.
Sources said that after implementation of code of conduct following
notification of election, the district administration has formed the SFS, who along with police officials are checking vehicles at different locations of Sundargarh district, to restrict movement of flow of illegal money.
“We have seized the cash worth about Rs 9.2 lakh since the owner of
both vehicles could not give proper explanation about the source of cash," said Rourkela Tehsildar BR Rath,
"The vehicle checking in the district, would continue till the election is over and anyone carrying over Rs 50,000 would be questioned about the source," Rath said.
In another incident, a poll flying squad on Thursday seized Rs 10 lakh from a car near Kotpeta village in Rayagada district.
A person identified as Padmanav was detained in this connection for interrogation. He introduced himself as a cotton trader.
The huge cash was seized by the election flying squad led by Rayagada Tehsildar Umashankar Behera while the accused was travelling on the car from Rayagada to Antamada.
However, the accused clarified that the cash was meant for payment to cotton farmers.
The Rayagada Town police initiated a probe to ascertain the source of money, intention of the accused behind carrying huge cash with him on the vehicle and any possible link for money disbursement during elections.