SAMBALPUR: Odisha police on Sunday reportedly seized Rs 1,42,91,500 of both old and new currency notes from a car and a house in Sambalpur district.
While eight persons including country liquor baron Zeyarat Ali (59) of Sunapali under Dhanupali police limits and his sons Md Qazzafi (35), Riffat Ali (33) and Sabtin Ali (31) have been arrested, police have seized two firearms and ammunition from their possession.
Others who were nabbed by the police include Rashmi Ranjan Rout (36), the public relation officer (PRO) of State Bank of India’s main branch and Pankaj Kumar Rout (43), both of Sakhipara under Dhanupali police limits; Kapil Jhajharia (37) of Marwaripada and Rabi Trivedi (40) of Nayapada in Golebazar under Sambalpur Town police limits.
Briefing media persons, Sambalpur superintendent of police Akhileshwar Singh revealed that the seized currency include Rs 85,62,000 in new currency notes of Rs 2000 and Rs 500 denominations and Rs 25,29,000 in old currency notes.
Preliminary investigation hinted that the money belongs to Zeyarat Ali and was being shifted to a safer place. The old notes were possibly being transported to Sambalpur for exchange. “At a time of currency crisis it is difficult to exchange the huge amount of money without the help of bank employees,” he said.
Singh said the liquor baron might have hoarded the money to evade tax. Further investigation into the matter is underway. The income tax department has been informed about the seizure, he added.