Rs 2000 Note Bundles Seized From Naxal Camp In Chhattisgarh

Positive results of withdrawal of Rs 2000 notes have started trickling in even as the opposition parties have gone hammer and tongue over the decision. Interestingly, Chhattisgarh Police have arrested two persons with Rs 6 lakh in Rs 2000 notes, said to be belonging to a Naxalite commander, in the Bijapur area of the State.

Gajendra Madvi and Laxman Kunjam, both Basaguda residents, were apprehended on Thursday from Mahadev Ghat by a joint team of district reserve guard and local police, news agency PTI quoted Bijapur Superintendent of Police (SP) Anjneya Varshney as saying, on Friday.

"They were apprehended while fleeing after spotting a police mobile checkpoint. Three bundles of Rs 2000 notes totaling Rs 2 lakh, 11 passbooks from various banks, and Naxalite pamphlets were seized from their possession," said the police official.

"According to Madvi, Naxalite commander Mallesh gave him Rs 8 lakh in Rs 2000 notes to deposit in various banks. Kunjam deposited Rs 50,000 in Punjab National Bank and Rs 48,000 in Union Bank accounts. In Madvi's accounts, Rs 38,000 was deposited in SBI and Rs 50,000 in Central Bank," the SP informed.

The duo was on their way to Rekhapali village to deposit Rs 6 lakh when they were apprehended, Varshney said, adding that they have been charged under the Chhattisgarh Public Security Act.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently announced withdrawal of the Rs 2000 notes from circulation, asking people to deposit or exchange them until September 30 this year.

RBI informed the Delhi High Court earlier in the day that the withdrawal of Rs 2000 denomination banknotes from circulation was a "currency management exercise" and a matter of economic policy. The matter was scheduled for hearing on May 29 in a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the decision to withdraw the banknote from circulation.