Bokaro: District police recovered around 2,000 sarees and towels, along with Rs 1.50 lakh in cash, at the Petarwar checkpost in Bokaro-Ramgarh main road (NH-23), during a vehicle checking drive, on Saturday. The materials, marked with the saffron party logo, were reportedly being transported from the BJP office in Ranchi.
Although the driver claimed the items and cash were en route to Giridih, the validity of this statement will only be clarified through further investigation. The seizure, just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit and an election rally in Chandankyari, has raised several concerns.
Bokaro DC Jadhav Vijaya Narayan Rao said, "The driver could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the items, leading to the seizure. The security and vehicle checks at border checkposts have been intensified."
Police sources said the vehicle check was part of an ongoing campaign related to the upcoming assembly elections.
The vehicle was stopped for inspection while travelling from Ramgarh to Bokaro. Upon investigation, the the authorities found the hidden sarees, towels, and cash.
Meanwhile, Rs 2.20 lakh was seized from another private vehicle at the Telmochu Bridge checkpost, linking Dhanbad and Bokaro.
As part of election security measures, the Bokaro police have ramped up vehicle checks at various locations.