The Keonjhar Police on Saturday seized Rs 1 crore in cash along with gold and silver jewellery worth lakhs during a raid at the house of suspected cow mafia member Sheikh Tajuddin in Mullasahi, under Bhadrak’s Purunabazar police station. The raid was launched following suspicions of illegal cattle smuggling, with police discovering bundles of Rs 500 notes stashed at the residence.

The recovered cash was so substantial that authorities had to bring in cash-counting machines, while vehicles on the premises are also being thoroughly inspected. Jewellery, gold, and silver were recovered, and police confirmed that a market complex and a residential college near Bhadrak Bypass Road, owned by the accused, will be raided next.

The operation involves nine officers, including a DSP, two inspectors, six sub-inspectors, and two platoons of force, and is being conducted under Section 107 BNS with a court-issued search warrant. Simultaneous raids are also underway in Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Khordha districts, with 46 teams deployed. Counting of the recovered cash is ongoing as the investigation continues.