Pune: The five crore rupees seized by rural police during a routine vehicle inspection at Khed Shivapur toll plaza on the Mumbai-Bengaluru bypass on Monday (October 21) evening, has been handed over to the Income Tax Department for further investigation.

The cash, found in a car, was counted in the presence of witnesses. The Election Commission, along with the police and tax authorities, will be probing 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 immediately questioned by officers, and the cash was seized.

Senior officials from Rajgad Police Station were present during the counting process, which revealed the total amount to be five crore rupees. The individuals claimed the money belonged to a construction contractor.

Following the seizure, details of the incident were promptly reported to the Election Commission. The cash has been turned over to the Income Tax Department, and the investigation is ongoing. The four individuals involved, including the driver, were released after questioning.

The car from which the cash was seized is registered under Sandeep Nalawade, though it was claimed during the investigation that the vehicle had been sold to Balasaheb Asabe.

The police have recorded the incident in the station diary. It was noted that Sagar Patil, Rafik Nadaf, Balasaheb Asabe, and Shashikant Koli, all residents of Sangola, were traveling in the vehicle.

There is also speculation that one of the individuals questioned may be connected to a local political leader from Sangola.