The police seized Rs 13 lakh in cash and sarees worth Rs 36 lakh during a routine check at the check post established on Nippani-Mudhol Road near Lakshmi temple, close to Khadaklat village here on Tuesday.
This has come in wake of the model code of conduct, being in effect for Chikodi-Sadalga Assembly Constituency.
The police have arrested the driver of the truck, who has been identified as Rakesh Molage, a resident of Dhulganwadi in Chikodi taluk and cleaner Amul Waghe, a resident of Navalihal in Chikodi. The truck that was illegally transporting the goods was also seized.
The police said they have seized 115 sacks consisting of sarees and other dress materials after they became suspicious that the sarees were being transported into Chikodi for distribution among the voters in view of the byelection.
The truck driver claimed that the sarees were being transported from Surat to Bangalore, however, instead of passing through the Pune-Bangalore NH, the vehicle entered Chikodi, which created suspicion.
The police have also arrested two persons for allegedly transporting Rs 13 lakh in another four-wheeler.
The accused claimed that the cash belonged to Graminabhivrudhi Samsthe and that they were transporting the cash from Nippani to Chikodi after collecting it from members of self help groups to deposit in a bank. However, they failed to produce any documents following which the police seized the cash and the vehicle.
