CBI files closure report in Rs 570 crore seizure case

Several queries were raised on why the money was transported urgently in the night without even informing the Superintendent of Police. 

Questions were raised over how the cash bundles from SBI chest had the labels of Axis Bank and about the registration numbers and ownership of the contract carriers that were used to transport the money, the security personnel, who posed as Andhra police, who were using private vehicles for official duty and why the SBI authorities took more than 24 hours to confirm that the seized amount belonged to them. 

All these questions still remain unanswered. The special crime branch of the Chennai CBI had taken up the investigation in August last year following a direction from the Madras High Court based on a petition lodged by the DMK. Special crime branch inspector Ravi was deputed to investigate the case. 

“We examined all angles and could not find any irregularity. So, we have upheld the SBI’s claim over the money,” said a CBI official. CBI sources said that the agency had filed its closure report at the Egmore judicial magistrate court, submitting that it had concluded its investigation and has not found any irregularity. A police team headed by Tirupur SP had seized Rs 570 crore from three trucks which did not stop when an election flying squad signalled them to stop near Chengapalli. 

The police team intercepted the vehicles later and found Rs 190 crore on board of each vehicle. When police interrogated the drivers as to why they did not stop, they replied that they mistook the flying squad members for robbers. 

The money remained at the Tirupur Collectorate amid tight police security for more than 24 hours and finally the SBI claimed ownership of the amount seized. The bank had clarified that the money from SBI’s zonal headquarters in Coimbatore was being sent to the bank branch in Vijayawada based on a request from the latter.