Cash hauls: Crores in new notes seized in raids

Kolkata: The income tax department (I-T) on Monday conducted raids in three parts of the state and recovered huge amounts of cash what they claim to be ‘unaccounted’.

A team from the intelligence department and criminal investigation wing raided the offices of several jewellers at Manohar Das Katra in Burrabazar and seized cash totalling Rs 22 lakh.

“We have noticed some discrepancies in the transactions of some of the jewellers. This is part of our drive against black money. The entire amount we seized were  in denominations of Rs 2,000,” a senior official of the I-T department said.

The I-T officials were in for a surprise when they raided an egg storing unit at Palbazar area in Jheel Road near Jadavpur.

“We have found cash of Rs 11 lakh from a person associated with egg business, all in Rs 2,000 notes,” an I-T officer added, refusing to divulge further details.

The third raid was conducted at a co-operative bank in Midnapore where I-T officers claimed to have recovered unaccounted cash worth Rs 100 crore.

“We have asked for documents pertaining to the cash in all the cases following which we will decide on further course of action,” a senior I-T officer said.

I-T officials have been conducting frequent raids after they received information that some jewelers have been selling gold without issuing proper invoice to the buyers.