Pune: In a significant pre-election development, police authorities seized ₹5 crore in cash from a vehicle at the Khed Shivapur toll plaza along the Mumbai-Bangalore bypass.
The incident occurred late Monday (October 21) night when law enforcement officials, acting on a tip-off, intercepted a suspicious car in the area. The large sum of cash was discovered during the inspection, raising concerns about its intended purpose during the current Assembly election period.
The police have been instructed to intensify vehicle checks ahead of the elections to curb illicit activities, including the unauthorized movement of funds that could potentially influence the electoral process.
At around 8 PM, officers stationed at the toll plaza stopped the car and uncovered the ₹5 crore. The vehicle’s driver was taken into custody, though further investigation has yet to reveal the source or intended destination of the money. The police were unable to obtain concrete information during initial questioning.
The seized cash was promptly transported to the Rajgad police station, where authorities continued the process of counting late into the night.
Senior police officials were seen at the scene to oversee the operation and ensure that all protocols were being followed. According to preliminary assessments, the amount totaled approximately ₹5 crore.
With the Assembly elections approaching, the timing of the seizure has raised suspicions. Political campaigns in the region are gaining momentum, with candidates scheduled to submit their nomination forms from October 22 to October 29. Voting is set for November 20, with results expected on November 23.
Meanwhile, political tensions escalated as Sanjay Raut, a prominent leader from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) party, took to social media, alleging political malpractice.
Raut, in his tweet, claimed that the seized cash belonged to a sitting MLA from the Shiv Sena and hinted at larger financial dealings. He suggested that the ₹5 crore was merely the first installment in a broader strategy to distribute ₹75 crore to candidates.