Dehradun Police recovered more than $Rs 1.5 crore cash was hidden inside a secret compartment of the vehicle during a check operation in Rajendra Nagar-Kulagarh area under the ‘Operation Prahar’ campaign, while the Income Tax department launched a probe into the matter.
According to a police press release, the recovery was made on May 15 during an intensive vehicle check drive conducted by Kotwali Cantt police on Sirmaur Road. A suspicious Mahindra Scorpio-N registered in Maharashtra bearing registration number MH12XT 3245 was intercepted during the operation.
According to the press release, the driver initially gave evasive answers when police asked for documents related to the vehicle, prompting officers to conduct further questioning.
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CO City Swapnil Muyal said, “During a check by Cantt Police, a suspicious vehicle was stopped for inspection… During interrogation, the driver identified himself as Satish Bhai, a resident of Gujarat… The other two occupants identified themselves as Thakur Jaswant Singh and Sachin Pilot… When inquired about them, they gave evasive answers… They later confessed to hiding a large amount of cash in a secret compartment of the car.”
Police said the hidden money was stored inside a specially built secret compartment between the middle and back seats of the SUV. Moyal added, “After receiving information about the huge amount of money, senior officials were immediately informed, and the Income Tax Department was also alerted, which arrived at the scene immediately.” In the presence of income tax officials and senior police officers, the vehicle was thoroughly searched, resulting in the recovery of approx $1.55 crore in cash from the hidden compartment.
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During interrogation, the driver, identified as Satish Bhai, son of late Hargovind Bhai and resident of Mehsana district of Gujarat, reportedly failed to submit valid documents related to the recovered money. “When asked about the source of the money, he said that the money was brought from Varanasi and was to be handed over to Jaswant who was traveling with him in the car,” Moyal said.
The other two passengers in the car were identified as Thakur Jaswant Sangh Banaji, a resident of Patan district in Gujarat, and Sachin Patel, a resident of Viznagar in Gujarat.
“The Income Tax Department is currently interrogating the three individuals and recording their statements while assessing the recovered amount. The Income Tax Department will take further action in the matter. The police have seized the vehicle involved in the case,” Moyal said.
The police described the seizure as a “major achievement” achieved under the leadership of SSP Dehradun during the ongoing district-level inspection drive.
