Balangir, Sept 22: The cash which was seized by the Balangir police from a lodge In Kantabanji has been deposited in the Balangir treasury.

Following the dispute over the amount recovered from the Annapurna Lodge at Kantabanji, the sum was presented before the Kantabaji JMFC Court on Thursday for counting which was later deposited in the account of the treasury.

Sources said that a sum of Rs 58 lakh was recovered from the Annapurna Hotel and Lodge. As many as seven Andhra-based accused persons were detained in this connection. Police during a media brief informed that the cash was seized from the gamblers. However, further investigation revealed that it was not a case of gambling but rather a bid to hire migrant laborers from the district.

At the same time, at least Rs 13 lakh was found at the police station in a suspicious condition, packed in a briefcase. Following this, the locals raised questions about the police investigation and the transparency of the SDPO, Kulamani Meher who had led the raid on the hotel.

Acting on it, Balangir SP, initiated a high-level probe on the matter and it was finally decided to count the cash before the Magistrate and deposit the cash in the treasury of the State Bank of India.