SHILLONG: The Centre will become richer by Rs 60 lakh as the abandoned money at the Ramakrishna temple at Laitumkhrah with demonetised currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 will go to the central government’s treasury.
An official source said on Thursday that after a warrant was received from the Income Tax office in Kolkata, the money will be officially seized on Friday and subsequently the same will be deposited in the government account through SBI.
Before depositing the money in the bank here, the cash will be verified to detect fake currency notes, if any, in the presence of RBI officials.
The source added that the Ramakrishna Mission authorities at Laitumkhrah had contacted their headquarters for advice on the abandoned cash and subsequently the police were informed about the development.
The Income Tax officials are probing all angles to find out the source of the abandoned cash.
In a statement on Thursday, Swami Achyuteshananda, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, said it was around 9 am on November 12 that they found a few polythene bags above the offering box (pranami box) at the Sri Ramakrishna Temple on their campus.
“When we opened the polythene bags, expecting some fruits and flowers, to our surprise we found bundles of demonetised currency notes in Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denominations. We voluntarily approached the Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, for submission of anonymous donation of Rs 60,02,500 received at the Sri Ramakrishna Temple of the Ashram campus on November 12,” the statement said.
According to Swami Achyuteshananda, the Superintendent of Police advised them to deposit the money to Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (CCIT), Shillong, and issued a memo dated November 22 addressing the CCIT, Shillong in this regard.
Later on November 23, the Mission authorities visited the Income Tax Office with a request letter to accept the money as directed by the SP. The Deputy Director of Income Tax informed them that the I-T department would take the money after passing necessary order.
However, police have not taken up the case since it was not a matter of stolen money, and moreover, no one has filed any FIR.
East Khasi Hill SP M. Kharkrang said since no CCTV was installed, it would be difficult to trace who abandoned the cash near the donation box. “However, we are curious to know the source of money and can assist the Income Tax officials if we receive any clues,” he added.
There was a delay of almost 10 days in reporting the matter to the police.
However, police said that the delay may be because the Ramakrishna Mission here had to consult its headquarters for a final decision.
