Chennai

On Monday morning, the team led by inspector Srinivasan was checking vehicle in Mannadi and intercepted a pedestrian walking by with a backpack. When inquired, he reportedly told the police that he was on his way to buy vegetables.

However, as his replies were contradictory, officials checked his bag and found Rs 8.29 lakh in cash. It was seized and based on his confession, the police raided the house he was staying in on Broadway and seized another Rs 9.50 lakh and a currency counting machine.

As he did not have any valid documents to account for the money, the police suspect that he could be a courier used for hawala transaction. The man was identified as S Moideen Thambi (26) of Kayalpattinam in Tiruchendur taluk.

A senior police officer said that he would be handed over to the Income Tax department for further investigation.