Police have seized Rs 17.30 lakh in Rs 2,000 denomination, allegedly meant to be exchanged for a commission, from a person in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district.
The man, along with an accomplice, allegedly brokered a deal with some persons for exchanging the scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes for a six per cent commission, a senior police official said.
He used a police constable, his close relative working in Gudivada rural police station, as a shield for the operation. However, the persons who wanted to exchange the old currency did not turn up and Rahman started on his return journey.
During a routine check, police intercepted his vehicle at Pedaparupudi late last night and found the bundles of new Rs 2,000 notes.
"We have detained the man while a hunt is on for his accomplice. The constable in question seems ignorant of the operation as this man only wanted to use him as a shield," Gudivada Deputy Superintendent of Police Ankineedu Prasad said.
"We are now investigating from where he got such huge cash," the DSP added.