A city-based jewelry firm claimed it was a legitimate shipment. (representative)

Pune:

A static surveillance team (SST) of the Election Commission on Friday found jewelery worth Rs 139 crore being transported in a logistics company’s vehicle here.

A city-based jewelry firm claimed it was a legitimate shipment.

SSTs have been deployed in the city in view of the November 20 Maharashtra Assembly elections.

A tempo belonging to Sequel Global Precious Logistics was intercepted in Sahakarnagar area here, said Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Smartana Patil.

“On enquiry, the team found that the boxes in the vehicle contained jewelery and the vehicle came from Mumbai…we informed the Income Tax department and election officials about it,” she said, adding that the consignment was worth Rs 139. crore.

Amit Modak, managing director of jewelery firm PN Gadgil & Sons, said the jewelery transported belonged to various jewelery stores in Pune, including 10 kg cargo belonging to his company.

“Each item has a VAT invoice attached. Even the driver does not know what is in the boxes. Only the sender’s jeweler and the recipient’s jeweler know about the shipment….It also includes old gold jewelry sent to us by our branches. In addition, diamond jewelry worth 1 to 1.5 crore Rs there too.

“It is a legitimate logistics service and traders should not face any inconvenience,” Modak added.

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