Huge haul of Indian, foreign currencies in poll-bound Bihar

Motihari/Patna: During their intensified campaign to enforce the Model Code of Conduct, police on Monday seized Rs 1.1 crore in Bihar's East Champaran district in addition to a rich haul of unaccounted Indian and foreign currencies in others parts of the poll-bound state.

The police seized Rs 1.1 crore from a Scorpio at Damodarpur village under Mehsi police station in East Champaran district, Deputy Superintendent of Police Chakia Mundrika Prasad said.

The DSP said the SUV was stopped for checking late this evening on NH-28 in between Motihari and Muzaffarpur.

Five persons on board the vehicle have been taken into custody and were questioned, Prasad said.

He said Income Tax department and Election officials have been intimated about the recovery of the cash.

Elsewhere in Bihar, more than Rs 11.46 unaccounted Indian currency along with some foreign currencies were seized during the day.

Additional Chief Election Officer R Lakshmanan told reporters in Patna that over Rs 11.46 lakh unaccounted Indian currency was seized from three places of the state today.

While Rs 8,25,555 were seized in Vikramganj in Rohtas district, Rs 1,70,650 was recovered at Sitamarhi district and another Rs 1,50,000 from the Aurangabad district, he said.

Lakshmanan said a man was arrested in Madhubani district with 67,00 Nepali currency, 196 Qatar, 10,000 Indonesian currency along with currencies of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bangladesh and Malaysia.

The man held with the foreign currencies in Dewdha police station of Madhubani district, has been identified as Mohammad Salim, a resident of Dhanusha district of Nepal, he said.

The Additional CEO said 24,856 litres of illicit liquor was seized during the day and in Aurangabad, 85 kg of ganja was nabbed during the exercise.

Lakshmanan said 14 cases have been registered for defacing public property and 10 cases of misuse of vehicles.

On the law and order front, 11 arms/weapons and 70 cartridges have been seized and total 868 non-bailable warrants have been executed so far, he added.