: The Election Flying Squad seized Rs 5.38 lakh cash in two areas here today from a Kochi based vegetable wholesale merchant and another person.
Officials said Flying Squad personnel of Bhavanisagar constituency stopped a car near Punjai Puliampatty village, 80 km from here this morning and seized Rs 4.09 lakh cash.
The driver, a vegetable wholesale merchant from Ernakulam, claimed he was proceeding to Mysore to give the money to vegetable farmers there, from whom he had purchased vegetables. But he could not account for the cash and so it was seized.
In Palliyuthu village 20 km from here, the squad stopped a mini lorry coming from Muthur area and seized Rs 1. 29 lakh cash from one Balasubramani.
He told the officials that he was on his way to Salem to purchase coconuts, but did not have receipts for the same. The money was then seized.
