Rs 16 lakh cash seized from Port Blair Airport; I-T dept begins investigation
The Income Tax (I-T) unit of Andaman and Nicobar Islands today began investigation on the seizure of cash worth Rs 16 lakh from a priest, at Port Blair airport. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) team deputed at Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair on Friday seized huge amount of cash from the priest, a Chennai bound passenger.
As per reports the person, identified as G Gopal Krishnan was heading towards Chennai via Indigo Airlines with cash of Rs 16,00,000.
During the X-Ray baggage checking, upon noticing something suspicious in his bag, the CISF personnel immediately opened and checked the bag.
Sources said that while checking, the CISF unit found around seven and a half bundles of new Rs 2000 notes and some notes of new Rs 500 kept in two different bags.
Sources also said that the man was also carrying Rs 1,00,000 in old currencies. The CISF unit immediately informed the matter to the I-T department unit of A & N Islands, after which a team of officials reached the spot and took the man for interrogation. The officials also took the cash in their custody.
After the interrogation, on Saturday, the I-T officials found that out of the seized amount, 15 lakh rupees were of some jewellery shop owner based out of Andaman. Subsequently, a team of I-T officials along with a police team interrogated the businessman.
“Our men went with I-T team to the jewellery shop, from where the person is said to have received such huge cash. I can’t give more details about this matter at this moment,” a senior police officer told TNIE.
The entire episode has raised many questions as to how the man managed to collect the new Rs 2000 denomination notes in such large numbers and which bank has issued the amount.
This seizure can also be a massive crackdown against black money in Andaman since demonetisation, further details are awaited.