Bhubaneswar: Income tax (IT) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) officials Sunday questioned two persons, including one woman, who were arrested by Sahid Nagar police November 19 evening for reportedly carrying `30 lakh in unaccounted cash.
Police said IT officials questioned the two detained persons – Sumanta Pradhan and Mamata Behera – to find out the source of the cash. While `27 lakh was in the form of demonetised notes of `500 and `1000, `3 lakh was in newly-introduced `2,000 notes.
Police say they received a tip-off that some persons were planning to exchange old 500 and 1,000 notes here.
“We were conducting searches in the area. We intercepted a Renault Duster (OD-33-J-8131) in which `30 lakh was kept. We nabbed two persons, but the person driving the car managed to flee. We found out that the car owner is one Ganapati Behera and his son LN Behera was reportedly driving the vehicle,” police said.
“Pradhan said he met Behera at a hotel in Khandagiri area. Pradhan then urged Behera, who is businessman, to arrange a job for him. Pradhan is claiming that Behera picked him up from Master Canteen Square November 19 evening and the woman is saying she got into the car in Sahid Nagar area,” they added.
Police sources said after picking up the duo, Behera went to Jharpada and possibly gave `20 lakh, consisting of old 500 and 1,000 notes, to a person to exchange it for new 500 and 2,000 notes.
“IT officials are investigating where the money was supposed to be exchanged. They suspect the roles of some jewellery outlets in the city. IT officials suspect that some jewelers in the city had demanded 30 per cent commission to exchange the old notes. IT officials are also probing how Behera managed to get `3 lakh in new `2,000 notes when there is a huge cash crunch. The IT officials might also question some bank officials,” they added.
“IT officials will possibly raid Behera’s house in Berhampur too,” police sources further said.
Sources said three more persons had reportedly accompanied Behera in another car but they fled away on seeing the police.
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