In a significant operation, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) intercepted and seized unaccounted cash amounting to a staggering Rs 38.20 lakh from a passenger aboard the Netaji Express. The incident occurred as the train, running from Howrah to Kalka, arrived at Kanpur Central station.
How the Suspicious Cash Was Uncovered
The seizure was made during a routine drive against illegal vendors on train number 12311. RPF Inspector SN Patidar stated that Sub-Inspector Onkar Singh, part of the Vendor Drive Team, noticed a passenger acting suspiciously while carrying a bag in the general coach. Upon questioning, the individual, identified as Manish Dwivedi from Kheshar village in Fatehpur district, failed to provide satisfactory answers or any valid documents for the large sum of money.
A search of his bag revealed bundles of currency notes in various denominations. An official count conducted later at the RPF post confirmed the haul: 56 bundles of Rs 500 notes, 33 bundles of Rs 200 notes, and 36 bundles of Rs 100 notes, totalling Rs 38.20 lakh.
The Passenger's Explanation and IT Department Takes Over
During interrogation, Dwivedi claimed that the money was not his. He told investigators that his employer, Abhishek Gupta, a grocery shop owner in Fatehpur, had sent him to deliver the cash to a coconut seller in Kanpur. However, he could not produce any supporting documents or a legitimate reason for transporting such a large amount.
Following the seizure, the RPF secured the cash and informed the Income Tax department. Income Tax officials promptly reached the RPF police station at Kanpur Central. After completing the necessary formalities, the RPF handed over the entire amount of Rs 38.20 lakh to the IT department for a thorough investigation.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Implications
The Income Tax officials have stated that Manish Dwivedi will be taken into custody as part of their probe to ascertain the source and intended use of the unaccounted money. Cases involving the movement of large sums of cash without proper documentation typically fall under the scrutiny of tax evasion and money laundering laws.
This seizure highlights the vigilance of the RPF on long-distance trains and serves as a warning against the illegal movement of cash. The investigation is now under the purview of the Income Tax department, which will trace the origin of the funds and take appropriate legal action.
