Income-tax dept seizes ₹10cr from MNC’s bank lockers

The income tax department (I-T) has seized Rs10 crore, all in the new Rs2,000 notes, after it raided the lockers of a multi-national company at a branch of the Bank of Maharashtra in Pune on Tuesday, according to sources

The income tax department (I-T) has seized Rs10 crore, all in the new Rs2,000 notes, after it raided the lockers of a multi-national company at a branch of the Bank of Maharashtra in Pune on Tuesday, according to sources.

The cash recovered by the income-tax department from a bank locker in Pune on Wednesday. (PTI)

At the time of going to press, officials were yet to open five lockers, said the sources. Officials, present at the spot in Parvati, refused to divulge any details.

This is the first operation of the income tax department in Pune after the Centre’s decision to demonetise old notes of Rs500, Rs1,000 on November 8.

According to the sources, I-T officials swung into action after bank officials became suspicious about the operations of a few lockers during the post-demonetisation period. Top officials took note of the locker operations and informed the IT department.

I-T officials rushed to the Parvati branch of the bank, situated in a densely-populated area on Tuesday evening, and opened the lockers with help of bank officials.

Both bank and I-T officials refused to share any information, but the sources said the multi-national company has around ten lockers, which are being checked. According to preliminary information, I-T officials have opened five lockers and found the cash in new currency.

I-T officials are also investigating whether bank officials were involved in stashing the cash.

Sources in the I-T department said they may take some time to complete the operation and officials from the multi-national company were likey to be summoned any moment.

Meanwhile,a huge crowd gathered outside the bank. I-T officials have closed all the entrance and exit points of the bank.

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