₹11.40 lakh seized from car during poll checks in Kerala’s Kasaragod; 28-year-old arrested

A 28-year-old man was arrested during intensified election surveillance in Kerala’s Kasaragod early on Wednesday after police seized ₹11.40 lakh, allegedly being transported in a car without valid documents.

The accused PP Anoop, who lives under Azhikkal police station limits in Kannur, was nabbed near the traffic junction of the taluk office around 2 am. The control unit, which carried out vehicle inspections, marked the vehicle during the search and seized the money.

Police said the defendant did not produce documents explaining the source of the money. The amount in question was taken into custody and a lawsuit was filed. More legal proceedings were initiated.

The seized money will be taken to court for further action, officials said. They reiterated that transferring unaccounted money during the implementation of the Electoral Model Code of Conduct constitutes a serious violation and will invite stringent sanctions.

As the parliamentary elections approached, special teams intensified their inspections by targeting suspicious vehicles throughout the district. Inspections are carried out not only on main roads but also on internal roads and on vehicles crossing inter-state borders, including checkpoints near Karnataka.

Officials said surveillance will be tightened in the coming days to prevent the use of money to influence voters.