VIRUDHUNAGAR

Election authorities on Saturday seized gold and silver articles, worth ₹2.28 crore, which were being transported in a van as those manning the vehicle could not account for them.

Police said that the van, run by a logistics company, was returning to Madurai from Sivakasi when it was intercepted around 11 p.m.. The authorities found that the van was carrying around 3,000 grams of gold and 2,500 grams of silver articles.

Those carrying the ornaments claimed that they were being sent to various jewellery shops in and around Sivakasi by a jeweller in Madurai. However, the authorities detained the van claiming that those who brought the ornaments did not have proper bills to account for them.

The van that was detained near Sai Baba Temple on Sivakasi-Virudhunagar highway was taken to Virudhunagar taluk office.

After being alerted, Income Tax department officials were conducting an inspection and verifying the documents, an official said.