NASHIK: In the lead-up to the elections in Maharashtra, a static surveillance team (SST) confiscated gold, silver, and diamonds worth over ₹23.7 crore from a van near a toll plaza in Ahilyanagar on Thursday morning. Officials noted that the value of the items did not correspond with the receipts found in the vehicle, prompting them to alert the income tax department for further investigation.
Fatehchand Ranka, president of the Maharashtra Jewellers Association, argued that the transportation of the valuables was unrelated to the elections. “The police should have consulted the jewellers before confiscating the jewellery,” he stated.
To monitor campaign expenses, bribes in cash or kind, and the movement of illegal arms and liquor, the police and district administration have established SST checkposts across their jurisdictions ahead of the elections. Despite the transporters providing 14 receipts, the total value of the consignment was significantly higher than documented.
