Tamil Nadu Assembly polls: Rs 570 crore seized by election officials

Money seized during checking in Tirupur district, occupants claimed inter-bank money transfer

Electoral officials in Tamil Nadu today seized about Rs 570 crore from three containers during checking in Tirupur district, which the occupants of the vehicles claimed was for inter-bank money transfer.

Officials said that personnel accompanying the containers told them that they were transferring Rs 570 crore from State Bank of India in Coimbatore to Vishakhapatnam branches but did not have all the necessary documents and efforts were on to ascertain the veracity of their claim.

The flying squad of the election department, along with paramilitary forces, seized the cash on early Saturday morning, during a routine vehicle check on Perumanallur-Kunnathur Bypass, police said.

The containers escorted by three cars, did not halt, but officials chased them and stopped them near Chengapalli.

A check revealed the amount kept in many boxes inside the containers, they said.

The men in cars, claimed to be policemen from Andhra Pradesh, were not in uniform. They told the officials that they were transferring Rs 570 crore from State Bank of India in Coimbatore to Vishakhapatnam branches.

However, they could not produce any proper document to substantiate their claims, following which the vehicles were taken to the District Collectorate in Tirupur.

When police asked them the reason of speeding away without stopping, they told that they feared robbery attempt and were unaware of the officials were from the election department.

Bank officials from Coimbatore and Vishakhapatnam were informed, who have left for the spot, police said.

Polling in Assembly election in Tamil Nadu will be held on May 16.