KOCHI: With the deadline for exchanging withdrawn currencies of denomination Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes falling on Friday, the Sessions and Magistrate courts in Ernakulam district have submitted notes seized by the investigation agencies as part of the probe in various cases with respective government treasuries. However, in sensational cases, it was decided to retain the currencies, to be used during the trial stage of the cases, following the request of Public Prosecutors.
According to officials with District Sessions Court, the Principal Sessions Court and three other Additional Sessions Courts, Rs 4.53 lakhs of withdrawn currencies were submitted at the Ernakulam Sub Treasury on Thursday.
Rest of the courts have been directed to deposit the currencies with the respective treasuries. "It was following the directive from the High Court, the currencies of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 seized as part of the investigation of the cases have been deposited at the treasuries. In some of the cases in which these currencies are a vital evidence, they were retained following the request from the Public Prosecutors for the same," an official said.
The currency has been decided to be retained in a majority of cases being handled by CBI/NIA Courts. Meanwhile, in various Judicial First Class Magistrate courts, currencies stuck at strong room were also deposited. In Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, there were currencies of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denomination to the tune of 3 lakhs. While in three other Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, the currencies amounted to more than 20 lakhs.
"There is no directive received to deal with the notes that were retained once the trial stage of the cases is completed. A report in this regard would filed before High Court soon," Official said.