In a significant crackdown on Monday night, the Pune Rural Police confiscated an Innova car, bearing registration number MH 45 AS 2526, loaded with cash amounting to ₹5 crore. The vehicle was intercepted at the Khed Shivapur toll post, and upon investigation, it was revealed that the cash was intended for a politician associated with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction.
The police detained the driver and three other occupants of the vehicle for questioning. Among those arrested was Shahaji Nalawade, reportedly a close associate of Shiv Sena MLA Shahajibapu Patil, according to a report by India Today. The car and its occupants were taken to the Rajgad Police Station for further investigation.
Sanjay Raut, MP from the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), seized the opportunity to criticize the ruling party. Raut alleged, “The vehicle belonged to a Shiv Sena MLA, and not ₹5 crore, but ₹15 crore in cash was recovered by the police.”
The cash was seized during a routine nakabandi (roadblock) operation on the evening of October 21. Pune Rural Superintendent of Police, Pankaj Deshmukh, informed ANI that the cash had been handed over to the Income Tax Department for further investigation.
This massive cash seizure comes at a time when the Model Code of Conduct is in effect across Maharashtra, following the announcement of the state assembly election schedule on October 15.
In related news, enforcement agencies also confiscated property worth ₹10.64 crore between October 15 and October 18 for violations of the code of conduct. Authorities confirmed on October 19 that they had received 420 complaints regarding code violations via the C-Vigil app, of which 414 cases have been resolved.
The incident adds fuel to the ongoing political controversy as Maharashtra heads into a high-stakes election period.