Bhubaneswar: Police today arrested seven persons in Berhampur in Ganjam district while they were planning to execute a deal involving the sale of antique Hanuman coins.
The arrested have been identified as Pradip Mohapatra (41), Anil Kusum (34), Suresh Meher (31) of Sambalpur, Jayant Pradhan (21), Bijen Kumar Bag (40) of Rourkela, Akshay Kumar Patra (36) of Sorada, and Jayram Patra (34) of K Nuagaon in Ganjam.
According to reports, acting on a tip-off Bada Bazaar police raided a house at Shantinagar locality of Berhampur town while the accused were about to finalize an illegal deal in antique Hanuman coins for a huge Rs 2 crore.
Police have seized three copper coins with Hanuman image on them, Rs 1.5 lakh in cash, two motorcycles, mobile phones, magnet, and spirit from the arrested.