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Bhubaneswar: The Income Tax sleuths on Tuesday seized as many as 20 sacks stuffed with coins of various denominations from two buses following raids in two different places in the capital city. The coins had reportedly been transported to Bhubaneswar from Kolkata.
Acting on a tip-off about the transportation of goods including food and others products without e-way bills, the GST wing of the IT department intercepted the two buses, one at Satsang Vihar and the other at Baramunda Bus Stand.
Surprisingly, the GST officials recovered 20 packets filled with coins, from both these buses and later seized the vehicles. The drivers and helpers of the two buses have also been detained by the officials for interrogation, sources said.
However, the helpers and drivers of these buses feigned ignorance and said that they are not aware of what is being done with the coins after it gets transported to Bhubaneswar.
“We were carrying 20 packets of coins worth lakhs of rupees from Kolkata. What happens is soon after the buses reach Bhubaneswar, traders used to collect the coins. I do not have any idea regarding what they do with the coins,” informed bus driver Rajkishore Patra.
“Apart from luggage, other goods come in the bus daily and the coin sacks were sent by some customer. We charge Rs 150 for transporting a sack from Kolkata to Bhubaneswar,” said Madhaba, the bus helper.
While the exact amount of coins seized has not been ascertained yet, a team of Reserve Bank of India has been called upon to carry out further investigation, informed sources.
