Unaccounted Cash Seizure
Income Tax deptt seeks documentation from jewelers; starts probe in fresh case
Sumit Sharma
Jammu: The flow of unaccounted cash into Jammu and Kashmir continues to raise concerns, with another major haul reported from Kathua.
Just six days after the seizure of ₹3.36 crore linked to jewelers, the Jammu and Kashmir Police intercepted yet another consignment of unaccounted cash, seizing ₹35 lakh from a car in Kathua and detaining a minor, while another suspect managed to escape. The Income Tax (IT) Department has been informed for further investigation.
The first seizure occurred on February 18, when a vehicle bearing registration number HR98J-9889 was intercepted at the Lakhanpur dispatch point, traveling from Punjab towards Kathua. Upon searching the vehicle, the police discovered ₹3.36 crore in cash and detained the driver, Fahad Yousuf, and his associate, Fahad Wani, both residents of Srinagar.
Following the seizure, the case was handed over to the Income Tax Department. During the investigation, both detainees revealed that they were jewelers running a gold business in Srinagar. They claimed the seized cash was collected from Delhi-based businessmen and was being transported to Srinagar. To verify their claims, the IT Department has summoned the Delhi-based businessmen for questioning and has given the two Srinagar-based jewelers four days to provide supporting documentation.
In the latest incident, a police team from Kathua Police Station set up a naka at Bagthalli during the intervening night of February 23-24. The team intercepted a white Hyundai i20 car without a registration number, traveling from Keerian Gandiyal towards Kathua.
Sensing trouble, one of the two occupants managed to escape, while the police apprehended the other suspect, identified as Sajad, son of Koiga, a resident of Bathra Sua No. 1, Jammu. Upon searching the vehicle, police recovered ₹35,08,830 in cash. The detained individual is currently being interrogated to ascertain the source and purpose of the cash.
The police have once again alerted the Income Tax Department, which has taken over the case for further proceedings.
Authorities suspect that these incidents may be part of a larger network involved in the circulation of unaccounted cash, prompting intensified surveillance and stricter checks at key transit points across Jammu and Kashmir.
