ITANAGAR: A significant sum of cash amounting to Rs 1 crore was confiscated on Thursday from a vehicle shadowing the convoy of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma at a check-post in Arunachal Pradesh’s Longding.
Reportedly, the vehicle in question belonged to a senior official of Badri Rai company, a prominent entity engaged in various projects across Meghalaya, including the construction of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly building.
Superintendent of Police, Longding, Dekio Gumja, confirmed to the press that the cash was seized from a SUV car bearing registration number AS-01-ET-5252 at the Kanubari check-post in Longding.
Despite not being officially part of the Chief Minister’s entourage, the vehicle was purportedly trailing the convoy.
Initial claims suggested that the seized cash was earmarked for construction workers; however, the Income Tax Department is slated to launch a thorough investigation into the matter.
The Election Commission of India’s guidelines strictly prohibit the transportation of cash exceeding Rs 50,000 during the model code of conduct.
The seizure comes amidst intensified efforts by authorities to enforce electoral norms in the state.
According to reports, flying squads, static surveillance teams, and police personnel on Thursday seized additional sums of Rs 22.20 lakh in the state capital and Rs 16.10 lakh at Seppa in East Kameng district during vehicle checks.
With Thursday’s seizure, the total cash confiscated in Arunachal Pradesh since the enforcement of the model code of conduct surpassed Rs 5.48 crore.
The cumulative figure, including cash and the monetary value of other seized items such as liquor, drugs, precious metals, and freebies, now stands at over Rs 14.05 crore.
