Amid hurriedness of exchange of Rs. 2000 currency before September 30, the Tripura police on Thursday seized an amount of Rs. 56 lakh and detained three persons from Uttar Pradesh, when they were trying to escape from the state.

Giving details of the police operation SP(Dhalai) Avinash Rai said that a team of police personnel from Ambassa police station checked the vehicles from both sides of National Highway-8 at the portion of Beth Bagan.

During the checking, the police team stopped a suspected Uttar Pradesh registered Figo luxury car (UP64AJ-4187) and found a secret cabin inside the car. Then, they bought the car at Ambassa police and in presence of the Executive Magistrate, police started searching the car and also opened the secret chamber, said Rai and added that after opening the secret chamber of the car, they found three big bundles of Rs. 2000 notes.

After counting these notes, a total amount of Rs. 56 lakh recovered and police have detained three persons boarded in the car including the driver, who are all from Uttar Pradesh.

Rai said that in the primary investigation and based on the statements of detained three persons; police suspected something foul and had arrested one Kishore Kumar among the three detained persons.

He said that detained persons revealed that they have jewellery business in Agartala and Uttar Pradesh and they are moving with this huge amount of Rs. 2000 notes for exchange.

Rai added that police started investigation to find the routes of these notes and have also informed the matter to the Income Tax (IT) department.

While, police also said that detailed investigation is going on and soon they will abe to unearth the mystery of such big amount as the RBI had on May 19 announced the withdrawal of Rs.2000 currency notes from circulation, and said existing notes in circulation can either be deposited in bank accounts or exchanged by September 30. Only 20 notes are allowed to each person for exchange, so carrying such a big amount is illegal, said SP Rai.