BHUBANESWAR:
Income tax officials
seized
Rs 50 lakh
from a
Delhi passenger
at
Biju Patnaik International Airport
in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence checked the passenger’s baggage on a tip-off from
airport authorities
at Delhi. “One bag was found stashed with cash. Intelligence officials already knew the amount as officials in Delhi had intimated them about it,” an airport officer said.
“As per rule, seizure of cash more than Rs 10 lakh is done by income tax officers.
If found during departure, destination authorities are intimated about the passenger so that official procedure can start upon his/her arrival,” the officer added.
Since the announcement of election dates, this is the fifth incident of
cash seizure
at BPIA.
A few days back, airport authorities had intercepted a passenger with Rs 75 lakh, which was handed over to income tax officials. “It’s not that all incidences of cash seizure are illegal. Cash may be brought for commercial and social purposes. Since this is
election season
, we are vigilant,” the officer said.
Airport authorities said they monitor each chartered flight and the passengers travelling in them. The details will be shared with the chief electoral officer and district election officers. As per EC guidelines, they are keeping vigil on people coming in
chartered flights
.
“We need to keep a record of size and capacity of each flight, how many days it was stationed at the airport, how frequently it shuttled, and from where it came,” said airport
director Prasanna Pradhan
.
Airport officials said since Dec, more than 50% of non-scheduled flights are for air travel of politicians.
