Income Tax, Customs probe major cash seizure
In a significant operation at Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport in Agartala, the Special Branch of Tripura Police detained two men from Maharashtra after recovering unaccounted cash amounting to ₹1.68 crore from their possession. The seizure has triggered a multi-agency investigation into a suspected interstate cash transportation network and possible money laundering activities.
The detained individuals have been identified as Dattatry Thakram Virkar (36) and Sajal Sachin Devkar (21), both residents of Maharashtra. Acting on specific inputs, security personnel and police officials conducted a search operation at the airport, leading to the recovery of ₹1,68,27,000 in cash from baggage allegedly carried by the duo.
Following the seizure, the suspects and the recovered cash were handed over to officials of the Income Tax Department and Customs authorities for further investigation. Authorities are now examining the source of the money, its intended destination and the purpose behind its transportation.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the two men had reportedly been travelling frequently between Maharashtra and Agartala since June 4. Investigators suspect that they were part of a larger organised network engaged in transporting huge amounts of cash across state borders.
According to officials, one of the most striking aspects of the case is that the carriers allegedly did not possess the passwords required to open the bags they transported. The passwords were reportedly shared separately between individuals at the point of origin and those receiving the bags at the destination. Investigators believe this method was adopted to limit the knowledge of couriers and maintain operational secrecy.
Authorities have also discovered that the suspects were allegedly provided with new mobile phones before each trip. Investigators suspect that the practice was intended to prevent communication tracking and make it difficult for enforcement agencies to establish links between different journeys.
The seizure has raised serious concerns regarding the possible existence of an organised illegal cash movement network operating across multiple states. Officials are now probing whether the cash is linked to hawala transactions, tax evasion, money laundering or other financial crimes.
Further investigations are underway, and agencies are expected to identify additional individuals connected to the operation in the coming days.
