Odisha: Eight arrested, over Rs 1.42 crore seized

Eight persons, including a country liquor baron and a bank employee, were arrested in Sambalpur and more than Rs 1.42 crore in both new and scrapped currency notes were seized from them.

"Of Rs 1,42,91,500 cash seized last night, Rs 85,62,000 was in new Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 currency notes, while Rs 25,29,000 was in demonetized banknotes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations," Sambalpur Superintendent of police Akhilesvar Singh said. The remaining amount was in Rs 100 and other smaller denominations, he said. Those arrested have been identified as country liquor baron Zeyarat Ali (59), his three sons, Md. Qazzafi (35), Riffat Ali (33) and Sabtin Ali (31), Public Relation Officer of the main branch of SBI in Sambalpur Rashmiranjan Rout (36), his elder brother Pankaj Kumar Rout (43), Kapil Jhajharia (37) and Rabi Trivedi (40).

Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted a vehicle near Dhanupali Chawk in Sambalpur and found Zeyarat Ali and his three sons in the car. During search, huge amount of cash in bags was recovered, police said, adding two firearms were seized from them. During questioning, police came to know about the involvement of Rout and his elder brother. Later, they also came to know about involvement of two agents, Kapil Jhajharia and Rabi Trivedi, they said. Preliminary investigation revealed that the cash belonged to Zeyarat Ali. It was brought here for exchange, police said. "Some more people are also involved in the case. Probe is on and the Income Tax Department has been informed about the seizure," the SP said.