TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Maharashtra Police have seized foreign currency worth Rs 25 lakh from an interstate bus driver at Banda in Maharashtra border late Saturday night.
The Mumbai-bound bus that belongs to the Goa-based Jolly Travels agency had left from Margao late last night.
According to police officials, the bus (GA-08-U-9564) had reached Banda at about 9.20 pm, when two police, constables –Sanjay Kadam and Sahaji Burud– signalled the bus to stop. However, the bus driver did not stop .
The two police constables followed the bus to a distance of 3 kms, before intercepting the bus at RTO, Insuli.
Police further said the driver Nurullah Sayyed Hyatt was arrested with the bag containing foreign currency.
“14,570 British pounds, 20,000 American dollars and 4,000 UAE dirhams were found in the bag which was in possession of the driver. We have taken him into custody,”
Superintendent of Police (Sindhudurg-Maharashtra) Abhishekh Trimukhe said.
An initial inquiry has revealed that the driver was handed over the bag by a person at Margao and was told that another person will collect it in Mumbai. The identity of the two is being probed. “The driver was used as a courier. He has been working with Jolly Travels for 11 years,” he said.
Sindhudurg police have already informed Enforcement Directorate (ED) which will take over the case and custody of the driver. The SP said that investigations by ED will reveal whether the money was for funding terrorism, hawala or to avoid taxes. Banda API G K Matonkar is investigating the case.
