Rajasthan ATS recovers huge amount of cash, gold and silver from Ashram Express

Jaipur: Rajasthan anti-terrorist squad (ATS) on Wednesday night sized 5 kg gold, 200 kg silver and a cash amount of Rs 1.20 crore from Ashram Express. Officials said that the gold is estimated to be worth about Rs 3 crore.

The ATS team had to bring a currency counting machine to count the notes. It is suspected that the consignment is part of a Hawala racket. The case was handed over to Income Tax department for further investigation.

ADG, ATS Umesh Mishra said that the agency received a tip-off about the consignment.

“We were informed that gold, cash and other valuables were being smuggled in sacks,” said the officer.

ATS in joint operation with GRP, RPF and railway administration checked the train at Ajmer and Bewar railway stations.

“When the train arrived in Jaipur, the sacks were searched. We recovered Rs 1.20 crore cash, gold and silver. A firm by the name of Avadh Logistics had booked the parcel. It was sent by one Amit. One Arvind was to receive it in Ahmedabad,” said the officer.

Sources said earlier ATS got a tip off that the cash amount was Rs 50 lakh, but it was found more than that, the officials had to bring a currency counting machines.

The case has been handed over to IT department and further investigation is going on.

Officials didn’t rule out the possibility that a hawala network was involved in the smuggling.