A police officer with the cash seized during routine patrol in Cuttack on Wednesday. Picture by Badrika Nath DasVikash Sharma

Cuttack, April 16: Income tax officials today started a probe to ascertain the source of Rs 65 lakh seized from two persons last night.

About Rs 59.50 lakh was seized from a jeweller’s car at Bajrakabati, while cash worth Rs 5.50 lakh was recovered from a contractor near Belleview within the limits of Lalbagh police station late last night.

A six-member team today interrogated Dilip Karmakar, the jeweller, from whom around Rs 59.50 lakh was recovered, for over two hours at Mangalabag police station.

The officials refused to divulge information in connection with the incident. However, it is suspected that the cash was meant to be distributed among people in the city as poll inducement.

It is for the first time that the surveillance teams of the police has seized such a major haul of money, suspected to be distributed as poll inducement.

The police said the cash was seized from two vehicles in two localities during routine patrolling on late last night. On April 10, Rs 5.40 lakh was also seized from a vehicle on the NH-5 near Bhanapur within the limits of Sadar police station.

“Our teams seized the cash last night. Whether it was meant for distribution as poll inducement is yet to be ascertained. But, possibilities cannot be ruled out. However, further investigation in this connection is on,” said deputy commissioner of police Sanjiv Arora.

Arora said tight security measures had been initiated for the second phase of the polls to be held tomorrow.

More than 20 platoons of police, including four companies of central paramilitary force and 12 platoons of the Odisha State Armed Police, will be deployed for smooth conduct of the elections in 663 booths within the city police limits.

Sources in the police said 403 of 663 booths had been identified as sensitive, while 25 booths had been termed as hypersensitive.

Besides, 60 mobile patrolling units, 10 police motorcycles and 36 striking teams have also been constituted to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner.

About 18, 90,640 voters will exercise their franchise in 2,171 booths across Cuttack district tomorrow.

“We have made adequate arrangements to conduct the elections in a free and transparent manner. Micro-observers have been appointed for 351 booths, while webcasting will be done in 75 booths,” said district collector Girish S.N.