Team Herald
PANJIM: The Income Tax Department seized cash amounting to over Rs 6 crore from a hawala operator at Margao on Saturday during the course of surveillance being carried out for the forthcoming Goa Assembly elections.
The raid was conducted on the basis of specific inputs from Inspector General of Police, Goa. A tipoff was received informing about a hawala operator possessing cash at his residence in Margao.
Accordingly, a warrant was executed by the Income Tax Department and a search as per the provision of Income Tax Act was conducted. During the course of search, it was found that the hawala operator had made a hidden cavity at his residence for storing cash and other valuables wherein cash was found. Further, cash was also found kept in a secret compartment in a car parked at his residence, which was created specifically for transporting cash and other valuables.
The search and seizure operation led to seizure of cash amounting to Rs 6.20 crore. On being questioned by the department, the hawala operator said that the cash was hawala money. He does hawala for hardware traders of Goa. However, various inconsistencies were observed in the statement of the hawala operator and it is believed that the cash was meant to be distributed amongst voters for influencing them during the upcoming Assembly elections in Goa.
Further investigations are in progress in this regard, informed Income Tax Department.
The Income Tax Department has stepped up its monitoring and is closely watching the cash movement during the ensuing Assembly elections.
It has also set up a 24×7 control room with toll free number 1800-233-3941 and mobile numbers 8275803725 and 9403809343 and email ID goaelections@incometax.gov.in for any black money related information.
