Flying squad mistakes artificial jewellery for real

Madurai: A parcel service truck carrying boxes of artificial jewellery created flutter in the district as it was taken into custody by the election flying squad.

The truck which originated from Thanjavur was stopped at Chittampatti Toll Plaza by an election squad on Saturday night. On inspecting the consignment, the were taken aback on seeing seven boxes with artificial jewellery, which they mistook for gold and immediately alerted higher officials.

The vehicle was sealed and shifted to the district collectorate.

The container was opened on Sunday in the presence of district collector S Natarajan, DCP (law and order) V Sasi Mohan and officials from the commercial tax department. A check was conducted with the help of a professional gold assessor.

The proprietor of the artificial jewels based in the city told the authorities that the consignment was on its way to Tuticorin district and also produced supporting documents.

Meanwhile, talking to the media, collector Natarajan said that flying squads are conducting intensive checks at various locations to track suspicious movement of cash and other valuables ever since the model code of conduct came into force.

Cash around Rs 4.49 lakh has been seized in separate incidents in the district on Sunday alone, for want of supporting documents. Of the Rs 4.49 lakh, Rs 2.34 lakh was seized from a Nagercoil based trader who reached Madurai from Coimbatore on a bus. Rs 1.78 lakh was seized from a Kerala-based cattle trader and Rs 79,000 from a Dindigul-based cattle trader at the Melur shanty.

According to officials, so far around Rs 40 lakh has been seized from various people in the Madurai district so far.