Two held with demonetised notes worth ₹90 lakh in Ahmedabad

The Naroda police have registered a non-cognisable (NC) complaint against six persons after seizing demonetised currency notes with a face value of ₹90 lakh from a vehicle in Ahmedabad earlier this month.

The seizure was made on March 3 during a drive against property-related offences under the guidance of senior officers of the Ahmedabad City Police.

A team led by Police Sub-Inspector V R Chaudhary intercepted a vehicle bearing registration number of Mehsana and recovered 9,100 notes of ₹500 denomination and 4,350 notes of ₹1,000 denomination, both of which were withdrawn from circulation following demonetisation in 2016.

Police said the total face value of the seized notes stands at ₹90 lakh. The vehicle used in the transport of the currency was also seized.

Two accused, identified as Anil Leelabhai Somabhai Desai (22) and Krishnapal Singh Bhavsinh Veeramsinh Sodha (28), both originally from Patan district, were detained in connection with the case and later released on bail.

During the course of the investigation, four more individuals, Laxmanbhai Desai, Jayesh alias Jai Patel, Mukeshbhai Rabari and Jitendrasinh Rathod, were named as accused in the matter.

Police said a case has been registered under Section 7 of the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Act, 2017, which deals with the possession and handling of demonetised currency notes beyond permissible limits.

“The accused have been asked to furnish valid documentary evidence regarding the ownership and legality of the seized currency within a stipulated time,” an official said, adding that permission has been sought from the court to proceed with further investigation.

Officials said the probe is under way to ascertain the source and intended use of the demonetised notes, as well as to establish whether the accused were part of a larger network dealing in such currency.