Police detain 3 men with Rs 10 crore cash in Chembur, 2 others with Rs 21 lakh in Kalyan
The Nissan Sunny in which the detainees were transporting Rs 10.10 crore (inset: gunny bag where the money was stored)
Mumbai police on Thursday night seized over 10 crore after intercepting a vehicle in Chembur area of Mumbai and detained three persons in connection.
Officials with Tilaknagar police station found the notes stuffed in two gunny bags after they flagged down the Nissan Sunny car on Thursday evening. The seizure included Rs 10 crore in scrapped denomination of Rs 500, and Rs 10 lakh in 2,000 rupee banknotes.
After being detained, the trio claimed to have been employed with a cooperative bank in Pune district.
“The currency includes old notes of Rs. 500 worth Rs. 10 crore and new notes of Rs. 2,000 worth Rs. 10 lakh. The trio inside the vehicle, who are with the Vaidyanath Urban Cooperative Bank, have said that they were transporting the currency from the Pimpri Chinchwad branch of the bank to its Ghatkopar Branch. We are verifying their claims,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Shahaji Umap, (Zone VI).
They claimed the vehicle was transporting notes from Ghatkopar branch of the bank to Pune, police said.
“We are verifying their claim and will seek help from the Income Tax Department,” Mumbai police spokesperson and DCP Ashok Dudhe said.
The Tilak Nagar police have asked the bank authorities to submit their records from both the Pimpri Chinchwad Branch as well as the Ghatkopar branch for further investigation. Pritam Munde, the daughter of BJP Leader Gopinath Munde is the director of Vaidyanath Urban Cooperative Bank.
In a separate incident, the Khadakpada police seized Rs. 21.22 lakh in old Rs. 500 as well as the new Rs. 2,000 notes and detained two men in connection with the seizure in Kalyan.
The seizure included Rs 17 lakh in new currency.
“The duo were riding Honda Activa scooters and had the cash in bags. Preliminary inquiries indicate that they were running a currency exchange racket, and we have contacted the Income Tax department, who will be conducting further inquiries into the matter,” said Police Inspector Sukhada Narkar, Thane Police spokesperson.
The duo were busted during checking on Birla College Road. Police have also recovered multiple cheque books from the accused.
