Thanjavur: Police seized Rs 34 lakh cash in the new Rs 2,000 currency notes while it was being transported in an Audi car without valid documents by a Trichy hotelier at Orathanadu on Friday night.

A five member gang, including Peer Mohamed (47), who is the proprietor of Buhari Hotel in Trichy, came in an Audi car to Orathanadu and made enquiries about the way to Karambayam village last night. The local residents grew suspicious and alerted the police. On being informed, a police team led by DSP Sengamalakannan of Orathanadu Sub Division, rushed there, did a search and found the money in the car.

Upon enquiry, Peer Mohamed claimed that he was taking the money to buy a land in Karambiyam. As he had no valid documents for carrying the cash, police handed over the car, along with the cash and its occupants to the Income Tax department. The other four occupants of the car were identified as driver Usman Ali (32), Vijayakumar (24), and Parameswaran (21) and Kesavan.

Upon further interrogation, it was, however, discovered that they were returning to Trichy after exchanging demonetised currencies with a person in Pattukkottai.