UP polls: Rs.13 crore unaccounted cash seized

Lucknow: Huge amount of unaccounted cash was recovered on Monday in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh during a drive, launched at the behest of the Election Commission, to check the flow of illegal money. Over Rs. 13 crore in cash was found in a van in Ghaziabad near Delhi. There have been similar seizures in Muzaffarnagar, Lakhimpur Kheri and some other parts of the state.

"So far more than Rs. 10 crore have been seized from different parts of the state during a drive to check flow of illegal money," state Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha told reporters here.

He said Rs. 13.1 crore were recovered from a van in Ghaziabad.

"The passengers claimed Rs. 12.5 crore belonged to a bank and were meant for refilling ATMs but they did not have proper documents required to carry the same," Sinha said.

Besides, Rs. 60 lakh belonging to a private party were also recovered from the same van, he said adding the matter was being investigated.

"As per the directives of the EC, if any person is carrying cash more than Rs. 2.5 lakh without documents then seizure is mandatory," the CEO said.

Around Rs. four crore of unaccounted cash was recovered since last evening, police said.

"In the last 24 hours, more than Rs. 3.92 crore have been recovered," IGP (Crime) G P Sharma told reporters here.

As many as Rs. 1.54 crore were recovered during checking in Chattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar, he said.

"Of this, Rs. 1.51 crore were found in a jeep in Mohanganj area," the IGP said.