Around ₹1.55 crore cash was recovered by police in Dehradun around midnight in a late night search of an SUV with an exclusive secret compartment during the ongoing “Operation Prahar” police crackdown around the city.
Kotwali Cantt Police made the recovery in an intensive vehicle checking drive on Sirmaur Road in Rajendra Nagar-Kaulagarh area. Albertstalkers inspecting the vehicle noticed a marksman at a Mumbai traffic office spotted a vehicle bearing out from the city, which had been registered in Maharashtra, was the same vehicle with all the occupants of which had refused to give officers clear answers about the car and their trip.
The driver told police that he was Satish Bhai of Gujarat and two of the others were identified as Thakur Jaswant Singh and Sachin Pilot. In fact, the three seniors when questioned, were evasive by telling officers something that made them suspicious.
Further investigation revealed that a large amount of cash had been concealed in a hidden cabin specially built between the middle and rear seats of the SUV. The discovery was immediately notified to senior officers of the police stations and tax officials of the Income Tax Department.
Later a detailed search was carried out in the presence of Income Tax branch officials and senior officers which resulted in cash worth of Rs. Rs. 1.55 crore was seized from the vehicle.
A source investigation into the money is underway to determine both where the funds came from and how they were to be used. Investigators are looking into relationship of the cash with any tax evasions or hawala operations or any other money laundering activity. Police have all three men on their list of suspects in the probe.