Political slugfest in Maharashtra over Rs 5 crore cash seized from car in Pune
- In Reports
- 06:54 PM, Oct 22, 2024
- Myind Staff
Political tensions have increased since Rs 5 crore in cash was found in an SUV in Pune on Monday night. One of the individuals in the car, a construction contractor from Sangola in the Solapur district, said the money was his, according to the Pune Rural police. Opposition parties, meanwhile, claimed that the SUV belonged to a Shiv Sena MLA under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Pune Rural police confiscated unaccounted cash on Monday at around 6:30 pm at a checkpoint located at the Khed Shivapur toll plaza on the Pune-Bengaluru highway. This seizure was part of measures taken ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, following the Model Code of Conduct. The case has now been handed over to the Income Tax (I-T) department for further investigation.
Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections on November 23, the Pune Rural police established nine checkpoints at key entry and exit points in their area. While conducting random vehicle checks at the Khed Shivapur toll plaza, they discovered ₹5 crore in cash in a white Innova traveling from Mumbai to Satara with passengers on board.
“After the cash was intercepted, we informed the flying squad formed under the Election Commission, returning officers concerned and the I-T department. The car’s occupants could not provide any valid reason and proof to account for the cash. Subsequently, The genuineness of the cash was verified. It was found to be genuine and it was Rs 5 crore. The cash has been handed over to the I-T department and kept at the treasury branch of State Bank of India (SBI) in Pune,” stated an officer from the Pune Rural police.
“One man, who claimed to be a construction contractor from Sangola, said the cash belonged to him in the statement given to the I-T department. The I-T department will look into the forward and backward linkages of the cash. It can initiate its prosecution if the cash transport violated the laws under its purview. The I-T department can even approach the police if their probe reveals it was for purposes of bribery, etc,” the officer added.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut criticised Chief Minister Shinde by claiming that a car linked to an ‘MLA of the Mindhe Group’ was involved. He alleged that instead of the Rs 5 crore reported by the police, Rs 15 crore was actually seized from the vehicle. In a post on X on Monday night, Raut hinted that the Shinde Sena leader he was referring to was Sangola MLA Shahajibapu Patil, using the phrase ‘Kay Zaadi… Kay Dongar’ to make his point.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Raut claimed, “My credible information says there was a total of Rs 15 crore cash. Of that, Rs 5 crore has been seized and the remaining Rs 10 crore has reached where it was destined.” In posts on X, Rohit Pawar, an MLA for the NCP (SP), also blamed Shahajibapu Patil using the same references. Only one car was impounded by the police, despite Rohit's claims that more were involved.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Shahajibapu Patil said, “I have no information about this case, and I have absolutely nothing to do with the cash the news media is reporting. All these allegations are baseless, I challenge them to give a single proof. I am ready to face any investigation.”
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