Narasannapeta: Police have seized cash and gold smuggled in large quantities in private travels buses. The inspections were carried out at two different toll plazas in the two Godavari districts on Friday morning. A total of Rs.4.76 crore cash and 352 grams of gold were seized during a search operation at Veeravalli toll plaza in Nallajarla zone of West Godavari district. A search of Krishnavaram toll plaza in Kirlampudi zone of East Godavari district turned up Rs.5.06 crore in cash and 10 kg of gold.
During a police check at Veeravalli toll plaza on Friday morning, bundles of 11 parcels of notes were found under the passenger seats and luggage compartment of a bus bearing registration number AP37TB7555 belonging to Padmavati Travels. This amount was calculated as Rs.4, 76,89,050/-. Also 352.892 grams of gold was also seized. The bus driver, along with the cleaner, and another man were taken into custody. Seven other people were also spotted coming behind the bus in three cars and were taken into custody and questioned.
Koteshwara Rao and Ramesh are cousins who used to trade in gold. They are from Narasannapeta and are currently staying in Vijayawada. Traders in Srikakulam are given gold without GST bills (Zero Business). In this background before the holidays came in a row for Ugadi, he took money from the traders and went to buy gold and sent it to the police. On the other hand, they revealed that the money was being taken from Narasannapeta in Srikakulam district to Vijayawada to buy gold. He said the gold would move later in the evening on the same bus. Koteshwara Rao told the police that he would go like this four or five times a month. Later, Kovvur DSP Trinath, Special Branch CI Mr. Ravikumar, Nallajar tehsildar Mr. A. Srinivas, CIs Akula Raghu and YV Ramana took part in the counting of the money seized by the police. On this, West Godavari SP Mr. Rahul Dev Sharma IPS said that the seized cash and gold were sent to government custody.
Our Citizen Reporter,
Venkata T Reddy
