Cuttack/Bhubaneswar: The Income Tax officials are interrogating two traders and their car driver, who were caught carrying Rs 30 lakh cash in Rs 2,000, Rs 100 currency notes at Manguli toll gate near Tangi in Cuttack yesterday.
“Tangi police informed us that they intercepted a car carrying some money. I and two of our tax officers reached the spot. We counted Rs 29.50 notes including some new 2000 currencies. Primarily, they have not explained anything. They are being questioned about the source of the money, Income Tax assistant director Manoranjan Rath said.
Police seized the notes stashed in polythene bags and covered with newspapers and detained Manoranjan Das, his associate and driver. Later, they have been handed over to Income Tax department.
The two traders have also been detained by police for interrogation. The traders were on their way from Cuttack to Jaleswar in Balasore district
Cops were tipped off about the movement of the cash-laden car and raided the vehicle at Manguli toll gate under Tangi police limits and recovered the money from the car.
"We had proper information about movement of heavy amount of cash in the car and accordingly, the raid was conducted," said IIC of Tangi police station Smruti Ranjan Kar.
Prima facie it seems the traders were carrying the money in cash to avoid sales tax.