Sambalpur: Police Wednesday seized two sacks filled with banned currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination from Mahanadi ghat in Marwaripara here.
A few notes of Rs 100 and Rs 10 denominations were also seized from the sacks, police said.
The amount of seized currencies would be about Rs 20,000, it was learnt. A station diary has been filed and further investigation into the matter is on, Town police said.
According to reports, a group of affluent families couldn’t convert their black money into white within December 31, the dead line set by the Centre. Left with no option, they stuffed the notes in two sacks and dumped them in the river.
The sacks, swept away by the current, reached Marwaripara ghat Wednesday. Some people who were taking bath noticed the sacks and a few of them even recovered some currencies. The news spread like a wildfire in the town and hundreds of people rushed to the spot. Some people even entered into the river to pocket a few notes, it was learnt. On being informed by locals, Town police arrived at the spot and seized some torn notes of Rs 500, Rs 1,000, Rs 100 and Rs 10 denominations from the sacks. There is no information on the owner of the notes or who dumped them in the river, the police said.
Dhanupali police had seized Rs 1.42 crore, two pistols and five live bullets from a car parked near the women’s college here in December.
Several persons were arrested over the issue. They included Rashmiranjan Rout, a public relation officer of SBI, Sakhipada, main accused Ziyarat Ali, a trader of Sonapali Chhak, and his three sons, Kapil Jhaharia of Marwaripara and Rabi Tribedi of Gol Bazaar. Besides, Town police seized half-burnt banned notes amounting to Rs 30,000 near Balibandha Bridge here December 20.
Though it has been about two months since Prime Minister Narendra Modi banned the high value currency notes, the situation in the aftermath of the move is yet to improve in most parts of the country, a report said. The hurriedly taken decision has severely affected the common people across the nation, some locals alleged. PNN
