Maharashtra Assembly Election: Congress Alleges Police Inaction In ₹5 Crore Seizure At Khed Shivapur
Maharashtra Assembly Election: Congress Alleges Police Inaction In ₹5 Crore Seizure At Khed Shivapur
The Maharashtra State Youth Congress has questioned the Pune rural police and election machinery’s inaction regarding the ₹5 crore seizure at Khed Shivapur toll naka, despite the model code of conduct being in force. Akshay Jain of the Maharashtra Youth Congress filed a Right to Information (RTI) application with the Rajgad police, income tax department, and Election Commission machinery, seeking information on the action taken. According to Jain, the Pune rural police seized unaccounted cash worth ₹5 crore from an Innova Chrysta car on October 21, with the driver claiming the cash was meant for a politician associated with the ruling party in Sangola .
The incident has raised suspicions, especially since the administration has taken no legal action in the matter, despite the passage of over two weeks. The income tax department refused to provide information, and the police declined to share a copy of the FIR. Jain pointed out that the police readily file FIRs for smaller seizures, such as ₹1 lakh, but seem hesitant in this case. This lack of transparency has led the Congress to allege that the administration’s inaction is due to the involvement of a ruling party politician .
The seized cash was handed over to the Income Tax Department for further investigation, and the Election Commission, along with the police and tax authorities, will probe the source and purpose of the money . The police stopped the vehicle during a checkpoint operation and discovered the large amount of cash. The driver and three passengers were questioned, and the cash was seized. The individuals claimed the money belonged to a construction contractor, but later, a contractor came forward claiming ownership of the cash, which is not legally allowed to be carried in such large amounts.
The Congress has criticized the administration’s delay in taking action, suggesting that it may be due to the involvement of a ruling party politician. Jain noted that if the police were to initiate an inquiry, chances are many people would be exposed. The party has sarcastically remarked that the administration will likely file an FIR in the matter after the elections are over.
The Maharashtra State Youth Congress has demanded a thorough investigation into the matter, and the Election Commission must ensure that the model code of conduct is enforced strictly to prevent such incidents. With the assembly elections slated to be held on November 20, the incident has raised concerns about the influence of money power in politics.
