'Hawala' money worth Rs 29.5 lakh seized

Excise officials today seized alleged 'hawala' money worth Rs 29.5 lakh from a two-wheeler rider at Manjeri in Malappuram District.

Malappuram Excise Inspector T Rajeeve said he and his team, on a routine vehicle check up, signaled the motorcycle rider to stop, but he sped away. The officials managed to secure him after a chase for some distance.

On checking, they found Rs 29.5 lakh in his possession and he could not account for it. The man would be handed over to the Enforcement Directorate officials here, Rajeeve said.