New Delhi, On Monday, a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the sensational seizure of Rs 570 crore in three containers in Tirupur on the eve of the May 16 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections has been registered by CBI.

CBI spokesperson R.K. Gaur said on Monday, “A Preliminary Inquiry has been ordered into the case. The matter has come to CBI on the orders of Madras High Court”.

On July 4, the Madras high courtdirected the CBI to register a preliminary inquiry on a petition filed by DMK MP T.K.S. Elangovan despite opposition from the central agency, which was reluctant to probe the case.

Opposition parties, including the DMK and PMK, have been demanding a thorough probe into the seizure of Rs 570 crore on the intervening night of May 13 and May 14. The state went to the polls on May 16.

A memorandum was submitted by Mr Elangovan on Friday to the CBI and asked if the RBI had granted any movement order for carrying the money and alleged that after the three container lorries with Andhra Pradesh registration were seized, attempts had been made to stake a legalised claim of the money.