The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on September 19 seized over Rs 71 lakh foreign currency from Ativ Mehta an Indian national at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai. Mehta was on his way to Hong Kong on a Cathay Pacific flight from the Terminal 2 of CSMIA, when he was frisked by the officials.

Suspicious behaviour

According to reports, during the pre-embarkation check on September 19, a CISF jawan noticed Mehta walking around the airport in a suspicious manner and stopped him at around 8.30 pm. Mehta was frisked and when he was asked to open his bag. Apparently, he panicked and showed reluctance in opening his luggage.

READ | Howdy Modi: PM Modi Meets Kashmiri Pandits Ahead Of Mega-event

On conducting a physical check, the officials came across  $99,550 USD, equivalent to Rs 71 lakh in Indian currency. The CISF jawan immediately alerted his superiors and officers from the customs department were summoned. The passenger was later interrogated by the officials. During interrogation, when the officials asked Mehta the reason for travelling with such a large amount of cash, he failed to give satisfactory answers. He was then taken into custody for further investigation.

READ | Howdy Modi: PM Tweets He Is Glad To Meet The Bohras In Houston

Similar incident

Last week, in a similar operation, the CISF officials had intercepted an Australian national, Mohammed Farouk, who was held with Rs 9.16 lakh in his bag in Mumbai. During interrogation, when he was asked to stand aside and frisked, currency notes in $10,000 USD, 1.13 lakh Thai Baht, 857 Chinese Yuan and Rs 50,000 were recovered from him.

READ | Howdy Modi: Baloch And Sindh Activists Expose Pakistan In Houston

READ | Bihar BJP Leader Rebukes Nitish Kumar, Says 'high On Arrogance'

(with ANI inputs)