I-T sleuths seize Rs 2.30 cr stuffed inside tyre

A total of Rs 2.30 crore cash which being transported by stuffing it inside the spare tyre of a vehicle was seized by Income-Tax officials on Saturday.

According to the I-T department, the cash was being transported from Bengaluru to Shivamogga and Bhadravati. “The cash handler was intercepted and his vehicle searched during which cash in Rs 2,000 denominations was found inside the spare tyre,” said a release.

Follow-up searches are being conducted in Bhadravati.

Cash seizures were also made in Navanagar, Bagalkot, based on local intelligence. Sources said searches were carried out on the residences of district central cooperative bank manager Arif Karnekar and first division assistant of the bank Yasin Tumbramatti. Arif was recently appointed the personal assistant of Bagalkot district-in-charge Shivanand Patil recently. I-T department said a seizure of Rs 1 crore was made from the residences of the duo.

In Vijayapura, cash in excess of Rs 10 lakh was seized from the residences of the relatives of JD(S) candidate Sunitha Chauhan - Ramachandra Doddamani and Devappa Taddevadi. They were searched by a team of I-T sleuths during which the cash was found at Devappa’s residence.

Two brothers running a jewellery business were also raided in Goa, where searches are still being carried out by the Department.

“A search is being carried out as the duo mainly carry out business deals in cash and generated amount was potentially used for providing accommodation entries against cheque issued by the parties who need cash. Cash in excess of Rs 30 lakh is being seized from this premise,” a release said.

The combined seizures made by the department as part of its ‘proactive role’ during Lok Sabha elections on Saturday was Rs 4.5 crore.