Mahasamund, September 8 (Daily Kiran) : In a significant operation, police in Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh, have taken action against the illegal transport of acacia wood and the forgery of No Objection Certificates (NOCs). Authorities discovered ₹81 lakh in cash at the residence of the accused, Manish Agarwal, located in the village of Mudpar, under the Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district.
The police seized the entire amount legally during their investigation. This operation was initiated following a complaint from the Forest Range Officer of Pithora regarding the illegal activities linked to the transport of acacia wood and the fraudulent use of NOCs as legitimate documents.
Criminal charges have been filed under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Indian Forest Act, and the Arms Act, with investigations currently underway.
During the inquiry, police received information about the cash at Agarwal’s home. Subsequently, they obtained a search warrant from the court. On September 7, 2026, a police team conducted a search at the residence in the presence of the caretaker and witnesses.
The search yielded 162 bundles of ₹500 notes, totaling 16,200 notes and amounting to ₹81,00,000. The police promptly seized the entire cash on-site.
Authorities believe that the seized cash may be linked to the proceeds of crime. Consequently, they are filing an application in court under Section 107 of the Indian National Security Act (BNS) to attach the amount, aiming to deprive the accused of financial gains from illegal activities.
The Mahasamund police have stated that they will continue their efforts against illegal transport of forest products, document forgery, and other unlawful activities. The investigation remains ongoing.
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