02 July,2013 04:12 PM IST | | Vinay Dalvi
The IT officials revealed that the consignment which was heading towards Gujarat belongs to several courier companies based in south Mumbai.
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At least 47 people, including personal couriers, locally known as 'angadiyas', were detained and 20 were let off after initial questioning by the two agencies early Tuesday morning.
According to the IT officials, the NIA received a tip off about huge amount of unaccounted cash and jewellery headed towards Gujarat from Mumbai.
Following the tip off, the agency took assistance from the Income Tax unit in Mumbai and intercepted the four trucks laden with the consignment and seized it on the spot.u00a0
"On each packet, the companies had marked the names of the recipients and senders. We are trying to verify it. The angadias to whom the consignment belongs, have queued up outside our office to claim the goods. We will verify the accountability of the consignment seized and release it if they have proper documents to support," confirmed Director General of Income Tax (Investigations) Swatantra Kumar.
The IT officials claimed that it is very difficult to ascertain the value of cash and ornaments recovered in a one day. They have taken assistance from several banks diamond and gold valuers in the case.
Kumar also added that they are trying to verify on what grounds have the local cops given them protection, since some of the policemen from VP Road police station were safeguarding the consignment when the raid was conducted.u00a0
(With inputs from agencies)
