GRP seizes gold worth over Rs 8 crore in poll-bound Bihar

GRP officials seized a bag containing jewellery and valuables worth Rs 8.4 crore and unaccounted cash worth Rs 2.5 lakh from Shalimar Express at Patna railway station. The accused has been identified as a businessman and further investigation is underway.

Patna:Ahead of Bihar assembly elections, the Government Railway Police (GRP) seized gold worth Rs 8.4 crore and 2.5 lakh unaccounted cash on the Election Commission's guidelines for the conduct of free and fair assembly polls in the state, officials said on Saturday.

The accused carrying approx 19 kg of gold was apprehended by the police while he was getting off Shalimar Express. GRP has been engaged in a massive campaign ahead of the polls according to the directives of EC.

The accused was caught with unaccounted cash and gold at gate no 4 of the railway station. He has been identified as Mithilesh who is a business tycoon based in Patna. Mithilesh has been taken into police's custody for further questioning. However, no documents related to the recovered gold has been seized from his possession.

Talking to ETV Bharat, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Manoj Kumar, said, "GRP and RPF were deployed in the train for monitoring and safety purpose. During the inspection, the officials seized a bag containing gold worth 8.4 crore and unaccounted cash.

Income and sales tax department officials reached Patna railway station as soon as the incident came to light. The officials sealed the gold and initial inquiries have revealed that the accused is a businessman from Patna's Bakarganj.

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This is the second major seizure from Patna Junction. Earlier on Saturday morning, the Railway Security Force personnel seized silver worth Rs 27 lakhs.

A few days earlier, nearly one crore cash was recovered from a hotelier who had come to Patna with the intention of taking tickets from a political party.

The Election Commission of India is committed to holding a free, fair, and safe election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar before the cessation of its term," a statement from the EC said on Friday, adding that it had directed the Bihar election machinery to ensure a smooth, effective, inclusive and time-bound completion of the Special Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls to ensure maximum registration of un-enrolled citizens.

The Assembly elections for 243 seats in Bihar are due in October-November and the tenure of the current Assembly is scheduled to end on November 29.

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With ANI inputs