Rs 49 lakh seized during vehicle check

SIVAKASI: Police who were checking vehicles at Thiru­thangal near Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district on Wednesday night seized `49 lakh from a car.Sub-inspector S Marudhupandian and other policemen were manning the check post on Thiruthangal-Virudhunagar road on Wednesday night. Around 11.30 pm, Marudhupandian stopped a Tata Indica car coming from Virudhunagar, the police official said.There were two persons in the car and the police found two big parcels on the rear seat. When questioned, the duo said that there were textiles in the parcel. On suspicion, officials who checked the parcels found bundles of cash in them. Marudhupandian handed over the car and the two men at the Thiruthangal police station.During interrogation, the driver identified himself as Muthukannu (43), of Sivakasi, while the other person said he was Manimuthu (31), of Murugiahpuram in Viswanatham.They claimed that the amount was raised from the sale of fireworks. When the cash was counted, it amounted to `49 lakh. The two men were arrested and the cash was handed over to tahsildar Ramachandran to be deposited in the treasury.